tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637920231878035152015-02-27T17:24:53.944-05:00Polka Dot Overload | Sewing, knitting & vintage projects, tips, tutorials and cartoons!Incidents in reckless sewing, glacial knitting, retro and vintage styles, bold prints and bright colors, brought to you by Brooklyn-based cartoonist Mikhaela Reid. Sewing pattern, notion and New York fabric store reviews, sketches, illustrations, cartoons, alterations, tips, tutorials and (free!) projects for women, maternity, nursing, babies and toddlers. I love vintage and retro styles, especially the hourglass and pinup looks of the 1940s and 1950s!Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.comBlogger309125polkadotoverload/sNjOhttps://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-32141981456769498972015-02-19T16:21:00.002-05:002015-02-19T16:25:46.477-05:00I almost had my baby in the car (Welcome Baby D!)<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16342446630" title="Happy Valentine&#x27;s Day from the four of us! by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8653/16342446630_34b44dbfa2_o.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Happy Valentine&#x27;s Day from the four of us!"></a>
<br><center><i>Family portrait with baby D at two weeks old</center></i>
<p>So as you may have guessed from my blog silence, I FINALLY had my baby. Our surprise baby boy D arrived in dramatic fashion a few weeks ago, at 41 weeks and 2 days along, and we were SO happy to meet him.
<p>And yes, I did almost have him in the car on the way to the birthing center.
<p>I had gone into labor during the night, and my father had rushed my husband and I to the birthing center around 3 a.m. when my contractions were about 5 minutes apart. (And I really do mean rushed -- he went through a number of red lights and we were stopped by a police officer... who then escorted us through lots of OTHER red lights when he realized I was in labor).
<p>Around 8 a.m., I was sent home due to failure to progress... but a few hours after we got back home I realized baby wanted to be born, like NOW. Somehow (with help from husband and doula and my dad) I managed to get back in the car and hold back from birthing baby for the agonizing half-hour ride. My water broke a few minutes before we got there, I (literally) crawled up the icy cold steps of the birthing center, they rushed me into a room and baby D was born about 15 minutes later. With his arm stuck next to his head (UM, OUCH!) So much for using the waterbirth tub!
<p>We — me, husband, big sister Z - are of course absolutely in love with him and couldn't be more thrilled. The birthing center practices early discharge and let us go home seven hours after he arrived. Here I am with my two babies right after getting home:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16257888819" title="DSCN4505 by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7430/16257888819_851c854fd4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="DSCN4505"></a>
<p>He really is the spitting image of his big sister as a baby, except that he doesn't have a dimple on his cheek. I of course HAD to dress him in hand-knits to go home, even though the sweater was a bit on the large side. This are the <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/12/the-baby-knitting-spree-continues-36.html">Aviatrix hat, Puerperium cardigan and Gansey booties </a>I blogged previously:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15824065953" title="DSCN4503 by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7300/15824065953_c3d9ec0476_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="DSCN4503"></a>
<p>The newborn-sized going-home outfits I had sewn were also too big at the time, but now at two-and-a-half weeks old he is barely fitting into them lengthwise--he is a tall baby!
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16580749562" title="D in one of the gender-neutral outfits I sewed while pregnant - it was way too big to wear as a coming-home outfit but now it barely fits lengthwise. #madeforkids #sewing by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7449/16580749562_bfced8d3f2_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="D in one of the gender-neutral outfits I sewed while pregnant - it was way too big to wear as a coming-home outfit but now it barely fits lengthwise. #madeforkids #sewing"></a>
<p>And a hungry baby. We have been having some really painful (and I mean me screaming and crying a lot type of painful, especially the first week) breastfeeding challenges--tongue tie, lip tie, clamping, shallow latch, cracks, blisters and more... but milk supply is not one of those challenges. Kiddo was born 8 lbs. and 9 oz. and yesterday we learned he has gained more than 20 oz. (1.25 lbs!) since birth. And things are finally on the upswing for me pain-wise after getting help from two lactation consultants and an ENT. PHEW.
<p>Now I can relax and just enjoy the snuggles and sleep deprivation. I've even been getting in a little knitting while D sleeps in the sling, finishing up my second Knotty glove:
<P><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16306065389" title="The little guy is snoozing (and gave mama a whole 4 1/2 hour stretch of sleep last night) - time for a little #knitting ! #babywearing by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8575/16306065389_e05553f153_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="The little guy is snoozing (and gave mama a whole 4 1/2 hour stretch of sleep last night) - time for a little #knitting ! #babywearing"></a>
<p>But mostly I've just been nursing this kid and trying to squeeze in naps when I can. Which I should probably do right now, in fact.
<p>But I also kind of just want to sit here and stare at him. I already can't believe he was ever this tiny — this is him with big sis Z at 1 day old:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16256510918" title="DSCN4553 by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/16256510918_cb55c13111_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="DSCN4553"></a>
<p>I guess this means I might as well ditch all those girly dress sewing patterns (including a lot of lovely Oliver + S ones) that Z has outgrown... luckily I have a good stash of Ottobres.
<img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/yBQ-ocR5Dxc" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com34http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2015/02/i-almost-had-my-baby-in-car-welcome.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-19420401127870026602015-01-21T12:06:00.000-05:002015-01-21T12:06:05.227-05:00Me-made maternity at 40 weeks + last-minute glove, sock + doll-making<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16115641309/" title="Didn't sew any new maternity clothes this pregnancy but the maternity tops I adapted from the Jalie 2005 T-shirt pattern last time are still going strong as I approach 40 weeks. This was part of my unfinished ensemble for the Patternreview Mini-Wardrobe c by M1khaela, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7526/16115641309_e8e50b3abc_o.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Didn't sew any new maternity clothes this pregnancy but the maternity tops I adapted from the Jalie 2005 T-shirt pattern last time are still going strong as I approach 40 weeks. This was part of my unfinished ensemble for the Patternreview Mini-Wardrobe c"></a>
<br><i><center>Didn't sew any new maternity clothes this pregnancy but <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2010/04/finished-my-polka-dot-preggo-jalie-tops.html">the maternity tops I adapted from the Jalie 2005 T-shirt pattern</a> last time are still going strong</i></center>
<p>Last time as I approached 40 weeks of pregnancy I was a total mess: impatient, fidgety, worried, nervous, and more, obsessing over whether baby would arrive "on time" or not, and how much maternity leave time with actual baby I would lose as the days ticked by.
<p>This time I swore it would be different, because "babies come on their birthdays, not on their due dates", as my Hypnobabies birthing class instructor told us. Once I started maternity leave (which was yesterday) I would be relaxed, I would be zen, I would catch up on sleep, finish up craft projects, tidy up the apartment, bank some extra meals in the freezer...
<p>This sounds hilarious to me now as I sit here at my computer <a href="http://spacefem.com/pregnant/due.php">compulsively refreshing statistics on the likelihood of giving birth on any given day</a> (today's probability is about 8%, in case you were curious). I have had three false alarms in the past week that I could have SWORN were the real thing, my parents are staying with us so they can babysit our daughter when the time arrives, my maternity leave is ticking away, and we are all just WAITING waiting waiting. I have never been a patient person, so why start now?
<p>Which is why I am currently slowly knitting myself a pair of gloves with size 000 needles (i.e. needles so thin they are basically pieces of straw that feel like they are about to snap at any moment)...
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16301902795/" title="Ever tried #knitting with Size 000 needles? Going so slow because I feel like they are about to snap any minute. (I had been knitting the Knotty gloves with Size 0 and they were coming out way too big so I frogged them and started over with these teeny Bl by M1khaela, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8572/16301902795_e085ebb198_o.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Ever tried #knitting with Size 000 needles? Going so slow because I feel like they are about to snap any minute. (I had been knitting the Knotty gloves with Size 0 and they were coming out way too big so I frogged them and started over with these teeny Bl"></a>
<p>These are the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/knotty-gloves">Knotty gloves by Julia Mueller (free pattern!)</a> in Studio Avenue Six Bellwether Sock I had started knitting a year ago, but they were coming out way too big for my tiny hands on size 0 needles and I didn't want to try and rewrite the complicated chart pattern...
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/13433833643/" title="Ok, I think it's time to admit these Knotty gloves are coming out too big. I'm using the smallest DPNs I have (0) but the pattern is only one size and I have tiny hands. Guess I have to rip back and try to rewrite the pattern? Eeeek! #iknit #knitting #sew by M1khaela, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3731/13433833643_d8988e9b0a_o.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Ok, I think it's time to admit these Knotty gloves are coming out too big. I'm using the smallest DPNs I have (0) but the pattern is only one size and I have tiny hands. Guess I have to rip back and try to rewrite the pattern? Eeeek! #iknit #knitting #sew"></a>
<p>Sub-zero double pointed needles are hard to find (none of my local yarn stores carry them) but I finally located the <a href="http://www.yarn.com/product/blackthorn-double-points-knitting-needles/">Blackthorn needles pictured in that top photo at WEBS (aka yarn.com) in sizes as small as 0000</a>, frogged the original gloves, and started over. We'll see!
<p>And I made more baby socks, because, well, why not? These are the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jelly-bean-baby-socks">free Jellybean Baby Socks pattern</a> from Spud and Chloe in Malabrigo Rios Glazed Carrot, and they took mere hours to make in a nice thick worsted weight. I misjudged foot length so these are too big for a small baby, but huge feet run in both my and husband's family, so I'm sure they will fit before long:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15677852943/" title="Orange Jellybean Baby Socks by M1khaela, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8565/15677852943_cc54e6b6cf_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Orange Jellybean Baby Socks"></a>
<p>Little Ms. Z and I are also finishing up a few doll projects — a big snuggly mermaid she designed for her one-year-old cousin:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16285440832/" title="She was so excited to stuff the mermaid doll for her cousin this morning it was hard to get her to eat breakfast. #sewingforkids #sewing #sewing #dollmaking #dolls by M1khaela, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8606/16285440832_247bb45e47_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="She was so excited to stuff the mermaid doll for her cousin this morning it was hard to get her to eat breakfast. #sewingforkids #sewing #sewing #dollmaking #dolls"></a>
<p>And a superhero doll with flaming red rocket boots for Z herself. The doll's name is Super Ruby (Z's secret hero identity) and she has a theme song and everything. She's going to have curly brown bouclé yarn hair (not pictured):
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16256809956/" title="Getting ready to assemble Z's latest doll scheme, Super Ruby, a curly-haired superhero with flaming rocket boots. #sewingforkids #sewing #dollmaking #dolls #sewingwithkids by M1khaela, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8656/16256809956_aabf6e34a4_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Getting ready to assemble Z's latest doll scheme, Super Ruby, a curly-haired superhero with flaming rocket boots. #sewingforkids #sewing #dollmaking #dolls #sewingwithkids"></a>
<p>I'm also getting a last few wears out of my me-made maternity clothes from my last pregnancy, since two kids is a just right for us. (And trying not to be bothered by the people asking me if I've had baby yet, because, well—wouldn't that be rather noticeable?)
<p>OK, back to refreshing those statistics...
<img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/z90ur7lWFQc" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com14http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2015/01/me-made-maternity-at-40-weeks-last.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-13976377273430316592015-01-07T09:00:00.000-05:002015-01-07T09:50:13.304-05:00Fun with nerdy T-shirt transfers: Doctor Who, Funkadelic & Minecraft Tees and Onesies <p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16015304130" title="TARDIS, Funkadelic &amp; Minecraft Heart T-shirt transfer fun by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7509/16015304130_6979193639_z.jpg" width="640" height="419" alt="TARDIS, Funkadelic &amp; Minecraft Heart T-shirt transfer fun"></a>
<p>Not sewing and not knitting, but I've been having fun embellishing some boring blank onesies and T-shirts with nerdy iron-on T-shirt transfers. These are <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Avery-Personal-Creations-Iron-On-Transfers/dp/B0000C0CIR">the Avery dark fabric ink-jet transfers</a>, as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Avery-T-shirt-Transfers-Printers-03271/dp/B00006B8FS/">traditional iron-on ink-jet T-shirt transfers</a> only work on white or very light-colored garments.
<p>So far I've done:
<ul>
<li><b>A "Future Doctor" TARDIS design for baby</b>, ironed onto a blank blue onesie I got for $1 at the thrift store. I found some TARDIS art online, traced it in Adobe Illustrator, then added text in Adobe PhotoShop. I didn't come up with this slogan, but it's about time we had a black Doctor Who, don't you think? (And depending on baby's sex, maybe a female one, who knows?)
<li><b>A Funkadelic onesie for baby</b>, ironed on to a purple and gray <a href="http://www.newconceptions.com/onehour.htm">New Conceptions One-Hour Bodyshirt</a> that <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2010/03/ufo-overload.html">I sewed for Z when I was pregnant with her</a>. This was husband's request—I also made him a matching Funkadelic T-shirt that I couldn't find for the photograph.
<li><b>A Minecraft-style pixel heart T-shirt</b> for Ms. Z, ironed onto a knit T-shirt sewn for her by my mom (no pattern—my mom just takes some measurements and improvises her own patterns). This was my gamer husband's idea—they both LOVE Minecraft and play it together quite a bit.
</ul>
<p>Since each transfer sheet is a bit pricey, I didn't want to leave any white space, so I also squeezed in a bunch of other vector logos or icons that I haven't ironed on to anything yet: The Incredibles, Ghostbusters, The Clash, a bicycle, and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16065953466" title="Fun w/ iron-on transfers: #doctorwho #TARDIS and Funkadelic onesies for baby. And more plans to liven up some plain second-hand baby clothes... by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7536/16065953466_85dbc2131a_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Fun w/ iron-on transfers: #doctorwho #TARDIS and Funkadelic onesies for baby. And more plans to liven up some plain second-hand baby clothes..."></a>
<P>The results were pretty good, and they seem to be holding up after a few test washings. I had originally wanted to do freezer-paper stencils (I have SO much fabric paint that I've never used) because the effect is a little cooler... but they are a lot more work and I cannot for the life of me seem to apply the right thickness to prevent unseemly cracking on knit fabric.
<p>Z was very excited and silly about her Minecraft pixel heart T, so much so I could not get a normal smile out of her for pictures:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15600140084" title="Z in her Minecraft Pixel Heart transfer tee by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8672/15600140084_ac8ed1d834_c.jpg" width="618" height="800" alt="Z in her Minecraft Pixel Heart transfer tee"></a>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16220674201" title="Z in her Minecraft Pixel Heart transfer tee by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7567/16220674201_9395a7daf1_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Z in her Minecraft Pixel Heart transfer tee"></a>
<p>Anyway, it's a fun way to do some quick embellishments without the time required for embroidery, appliqué or stenciling. The ironing only takes two minutes each.
<p>A few tips, though: first, be careful to read the instructions for your transfers thoroughly. For light-colored T-shirt transfers, you generally need to reverse the artwork—not so with the dark ones. I wasted two sheets before I figured this out.
<p>Second, be sure to wash and dry the shirt before wearing to set the transfer. I didn't do this when I took Z to an AIDS activist rally with Doctors Without Borders when she was one (we were protesting for the scaling up of the most effective treatments and making them more affordable and accessible worldwide to more patients), and she got water dribbles on her "TREAT AIDS = STOP THE VIRUS" shirt, and the transfer ink ran:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/6985510133" title="Mikhaela and Baby Z after the Doctors Without Borders AIDS rally last year. by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7195/6985510133_ee5d4c2a5b_b.jpg" width="730" height="1024" alt="Mikhaela and Baby Z after the Doctors Without Borders AIDS rally last year."></a>
<p>What are your favorite embellishment techniques? Appliqué or embroidery are still tops for me, but these transfers are just so QUICK and EASY.
<img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/IHe5BwjIVcU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com7http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2015/01/fun-with-nerdy-t-shirt-transfers-doctor.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-51959167326636394762015-01-06T18:00:00.000-05:002015-01-06T18:00:00.981-05:00Done: Striped Gift Wrap Sweater, Bonnet and Mitts <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16216191015" title="Gift Wrap Baby Sweater, Gift Wrap Bonnet and Wee Mitts by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7501/16216191015_3f4fbc0d3b_z.jpg" width="640" height="558" alt="Gift Wrap Baby Sweater, Gift Wrap Bonnet and Wee Mitts"></a>
<p>Yeah, so, partial bedrest is apparently really good for knitting productivity, because I have knit more finished objects in the last month alone than maybe the entire last year, mostly while lounging sideways on the couch watching <i>Marvel: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.</i>, <i>Black Mirror</i> and <i>Parks & Recreation</i> with the husband.
<p>Above is the latest finished knit set for Baby Torchwood, and I think it's my favorite so far. Because, well: stripes! Plus I love the kimono-style closure and contrast bands.
<h3>The basics:</h3>
<blockquote>
<p><b>Patterns:</b> The <a href="http://carinaspencer.com/shop/gift-wrap-sweater/">Gift Wrap Sweater</a> and <a href="http://carinaspencer.com/shop/gift-wrap-bonnet/">Gift Wrap Bonnet</a> by Carina Spencer (purchased as the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/gift-wrap-collection-ebook">Gift Wrap Collection ebook set</a> as I originally intended to make the <a href="http://carinaspencer.com/shop/gift-wrap-romper-sweater/">Gift Wrap Romper</a> but didn't have enough yarn)... plus the <a href="http://christine.typepad.com/knitting/2006/11/newborn_mitts_f.html">free Wee Baby Newborn Mitts pattern</a> by Christine Vogel.
<p><b>Yarn:</b> 3 colors (4 balls total) of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran yarn, a lovely, squishy, soft and washable merino wool/microfiber/cashmere blend. I bought these on impulse while shopping for buttons at one of my favorite local Brooklyn yarn stores, La Casita Yarn Shop Café. They didn't have enough of the blue for an entire sweater (just two balls), but these three colors seemed harmonious, and rather TARDISy/Whovian to me. I had a few little bits left over when the sweater and hat were done, so decided to squeeze out a pair of matching thumbless mittens as well.
<p><b>Needles:</b> The Gift Wrap patterns recommends size 8 and 6 needles, but I got gauge with sizes 4 and 3 for the sweater, and 4 and 2 for the hat. (I knit super loosely, though.) I used size 4 and 2 on the mitts.
<p><b>Size:</b> I made the 6-month size in the sweater, toddler size in the hat, and although the mitts are supposed to be newborn size, I used aran weight instead of DK weight, so they're more 6-month or toddler-size. I do think baby will be able to wear all the coordinating pieces at once.
<p><b>Notions:</b> The 3/4" buttons (sewed on INCREDIBLY tightly and securely, please don't worry!) were an Etsy find, just $2.55 for a pack of 50 in various iridescent shades from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/SkeeterBitz">SkeeterBitz.</a>
<p><b>Raveled:</b> <a href="http://ravel.me/m1khaela/gws">Sweater</a>, <a href="http://ravel.me/m1khaela/gwb">bonnet</a> and <a href="http://ravel.me/m1khaela/wbm2">mitts</a>.</blockquote>
<p>I am embarrassed to say I spent hours agonizing over my online button search, as I'm used to being able to stroll over to Pacific or M&J in the Garment District, dig through some nicely color-coded displays and drawers and actually pair them with the sweater... online button shopping is way less intuitive. (Plus I didn't feel comfortable buying vintage plastic buttons, cute and cheap as they might be, for fear they might contain formaldehyde.)
<p>The sweater took about two weeks of sporadic knitting, and the hat and mitts were both done in less than a day each.
<p>The sweater pattern has striped and non-striped options, as well as a contrast band. It's super simple to make, knit all in one piece from the top down, and the sleeves picked up later. I didn't have quite enough gray to stripe the sleeves, but I think the solid sleeves are a nice "design feature."
<p>Similarly, I didn't have quite enough yarn to make the mitts match, so decided to go for, er, deliberate asymmetry:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15582830013" title="Gift Wrap Sweater &amp; Bonnet and Wee Mitts by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8614/15582830013_b2cd942e03_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Gift Wrap Sweater &amp; Bonnet and Wee Mitts"></a>
<p>There is nothing easier than thumbless mitts, really. Babies don't need thumbs on their mittens, and I had made these before for Z when she was a baby:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/5261178422" title="Green Baby Hat &amp; Cream Baby Mittens by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5250/5261178422_6ed096fe80_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Green Baby Hat &amp; Cream Baby Mittens"></a>
<p>I do hope you're not all getting super sick of baby stuff around here... I really do plan to sew grown-up lady clothes again once my waist returns, but I don't really know yet what size I'm going to end up, and there is no point in making maternity clothes at 38 weeks along, now is there?
<img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/QSogKB9uf50" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com3http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2015/01/done-striped-gift-wrap-sweater-bonnet.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-80423721693001711852015-01-05T22:50:00.000-05:002015-01-06T14:03:06.691-05:00Done: Cute Coffee Mug Doll Set (from Aranzi Aronzo's Fun Dolls)<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15580243974" title="Arazni Aronzo Cute Dolls: Coffee Mug Dolls by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7465/15580243974_cf7697f5ba_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Arazni Aronzo Cute Dolls: Coffee Mug Dolls"></a>
<p>Somehow Ms. Z got it in her head last month that the absolute BEST Christmas present she could possibly make for her one-year-old cousin Ms. R was... a smiling stuffed coffee mug doll. With a matching one for her, so they could sit around and have coffee parties and pretend to drink coffee together.
<p>Well, who was I to stop her? They are really ridiculously cute, I have to admit, especially with their matching saucers:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16016841947" title="Arazni Aronzo Cute Dolls: Coffee Mug Dolls by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7482/16016841947_462b1d6013_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Arazni Aronzo Cute Dolls: Coffee Mug Dolls"></a>
<blockquote><h3>The basics</h3>
<p><b>Pattern:</b> Coffee Mug Dolls, from the English-language edition of the Japanese book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Aranzi-Aronzo-Dolls-Lets-Stuff/dp/1932234799">Aranzi Aronzo Fun Dolls (Let's Make Cute Stuff)</a></i>. (Which I highly recommend—it's full of really fun and cute dolls of all kinds, from bunnies and pigs and cats to, well, coffee mugs. <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2013/07/teaching-girls-to-sew-fun-dolls-eyelash.html">Previously Z and an older cousin both made matching Eyelash Bunny dolls</a>.)
<p><b>Fabric:</b> The body fabric is just a soft, fuzzy, and well-worn old cotton polka-dot cotton flannel receiving blanket, of which I have more than I could ever possibly use. Z requested we use the white side for her mug, and the polka-dot side for Ms. R's mug. I had JUST enough to make the two dolls, but had to piece the bottom of Z's saucer to make it work. The appliqués are cut from an old black T-shirt.
<p><b>Notions:</b> Fusible webbing (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Warm-Company-Steam-A-Seam-Double-Fusible/dp/B00114R66A">Lite Steam-a-Seam 2, no longer hard to find, hurrah!</a>) and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fairfield-Poly-Fil-Premium-Polyester-12-Ounce/dp/B000YZ7G44">Polyfill stuffing</a>.
<p><b>Size:</b> One size fits all.</blockquote>
<p>My only real modification to the pattern — requested by Z — was to appliqué the kids' initials on the back:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16176793276" title="Arazni Aronzo Cute Dolls: Coffee Mug Dolls by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7565/16176793276_699f251867_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Arazni Aronzo Cute Dolls: Coffee Mug Dolls"></a>
<p>The instructions are wonderful and very clear—Z was even able to follow along quite a bit, since they are illustrated in comic-book style:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16016173715" title="While Daddy was off protesting, Z decided stuffed coffee mug dolls would make ideal holiday presents. She scanned the pattern into the computer, printed it (with my help) &amp; cut out the pieces &amp; I let her press the foot pedal too. (from the book Fun Dolls by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7550/16016173715_073248b5fd_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="While Daddy was off protesting, Z decided stuffed coffee mug dolls would make ideal holiday presents. She scanned the pattern into the computer, printed it (with my help) &amp; cut out the pieces &amp; I let her press the foot pedal too. (from the book Fun Dolls"></a>
<p>But the coolest thing about this project (which was actually finished quite a while ago, just not photographed properly until now), was that Z sewed a large portion of it at the machine, by herself... with my close cautious supervision. (As detailed in my recent post <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/12/the-four-year-old-uses-sewing-machine.html">"How old were you when you first used a sewing machine? (with poll)"</a>.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16020544592" title="First time operating the sewing machine all by herself (with very close supervision from Mommy) to make a gift for her one-year-old cousin. Age 4 1/2. She was extremely careful.#sewing #sewingwithkids (tagging @fireapplefarm ) by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7474/16020544592_05175e9e44_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="First time operating the sewing machine all by herself (with very close supervision from Mommy) to make a gift for her one-year-old cousin. Age 4 1/2. She was extremely careful.#sewing #sewingwithkids (tagging @fireapplefarm )"></a>
<p>Little Ms. R is coming to visit soon, so we'll soon see how she likes it in person! <img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/JoEwg0L5l0s" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com11http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2015/01/done-cute-coffee-mug-doll-set-from.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-4728934539965505542015-01-05T00:05:00.001-05:002015-01-05T00:05:36.769-05:002014 makes in review: sewing, knitting, dolls—and a baby!<p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nmFRKDM4oHI/U5DRrf8z4bI/AAAAAAAACeo/xWliYxyzYxQ/s1600/Me_Made_May_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nmFRKDM4oHI/U5DRrf8z4bI/AAAAAAAACeo/xWliYxyzYxQ/s640/Me_Made_May_2014.jpg" /></a>
<p>2014 was a good, if erratic year, for all things Mikhaela-made.
<p>In February, I veered away from the sewing and knitting world to start <a href="http://www.safeandscrumptious.com/">a food allergy cooking blog, Safe and Scrumptious from Scratch</a> and posted like crazy for about a month ... before pretty much abandoning it in despair a month later when my daughter had an anaphylactic reaction to something I cooked for her, and we discovered she had developed five brand new food allergies on top of her existing five. Sigh. (I have slowly started to return to the blog, but with greatly reduced frequency and enthusiasm. Ah well.)
<p>In April, we took a family vacation to Austin that helped me get my sewing mojo back bigtime. I got to hang out with <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/04/austin-fabric-store-reviews-sewing.html">Susan of Moon Thirty, Dixie DIY and a bunch of other wonderful sewists and makers, I bought way too much fabric</a>, and I even <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/04/finished-vacation-miette-to-get-my-mojo.html">sewed a Tilly & the Buttons Miette skirt</a>.
<p>I next dove into <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/search/label/memadechallenge">Me-Made-May</a> with a vengeance... managing to wear at least one me-made item each day AND document it (see top photo collage). I also sewed and knit up a storm, finishing EIGHT garments for myself during the month: two knit dresses (a <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/finished-not-red-or-velvet-red-velvet.html">Cake Patterns Red Velvet</a> and a <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/finished-1970s-impulse-sewing-knit.html">vintage 1970s Simplicity dress</a>, three tops (a <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/a-chevroned-hummingbird-joins-flock.html">Hummingbird</a>, a <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/06/chevron-squiggle-overload-updated-cake.html">Tee</a>, and a <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/polka-dot-nettie-overload-nettie.html">Nettie</a>), a faux-denim knit skirt (<a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/help-me-conquer-my-fear-of-hemming-me.html">Jalie 2681, scroll down here</a>), a sweater (my beloved <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/done-purple-stripes-overload-cardigan.html">purple striped Delancey</a>) and a knit peplum jacket (<a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/ill-fitting-bathrobe-or-stylish-peplum.html">McCall's 5529</a>.
<p>Of all of them, I think the biggest hits—and the ones I wore the most this year until my giant pregnant belly finally made it impossible—were the <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/done-purple-stripes-overload-cardigan.html">Delancey cardigan</a> by Alexis Winslow of Knit Darling...
<p><p><center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/13966649899" title="Finished: Delancey chevroned cardigan in purple stripes by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7446/13966649899_80c3132d55_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Finished: Delancey chevroned cardigan in purple stripes"></a></center>
<p>... and the <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/finished-not-red-or-velvet-red-velvet.html">Cake Patterns Red Velvet knit dress</a>:
<p><p><center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14085757481" title="MeMadeMay 2: Cake Patterns Red Velvet Knit Dress by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7358/14085757481_31bd6ba776_b.jpg" width="631" height="1024" alt="MeMadeMay 2: Cake Patterns Red Velvet Knit Dress"></a></center>
<p>I also made <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/double-wax-print-impulse-sewing-made-by.html">FOUR super-simple wax-print children's items</a> for my daughter and niece, all in one 24-hour period—two Lazy Days skirts and two Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit tops:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14275278481" title="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5032/14275278481_ba163a43fb_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt"></a>
<p>Half-way through May, I found out I was <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/08/something-else-made-during-me-made-may.html">pregnant with baby #</a>2... and then found myself trying to hide it in blog photos for the next few months so as not to give it away until I far enough along to share publicly.
<p>As the months went on the baby (and my belly) got bigger, and bigger and bigger...
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15017682487" title="BellyPhotoProgression_Month4 by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5557/15017682487_03358e0f2a_z.jpg" width="640" height="564" alt="BellyPhotoProgression_Month4"></a>
<p>And then I officially got too lazy to take perfectly set-up belly photos, but the the trend has continued as I rapidly approach 40 weeks:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15851861657" title="Holiday Family Photo 2014--goofy by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8605/15851861657_dff982684a_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Holiday Family Photo 2014--goofy"></a>
<p>In October, the husband, kiddo, baby-to-be and I dressed up as Ghostbusters for Halloween, and I put together custom costumes for all three of us... definitely the most fun and rewarding project of the year:
<p><p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15058352714" title="Who ya gonna call? All 4 of us in our #Ghostbusters #Halloween costumes. We had a little #foodallergy friendly party at Z&#x27;s school and handed out little toys and safe treats. by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7488/15058352714_0312a96632_o.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Who ya gonna call? All 4 of us in our #Ghostbusters #Halloween costumes. We had a little #foodallergy friendly party at Z&#x27;s school and handed out little toys and safe treats."></a>
<p>I also participated in my first book blog tour, for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Graphic-Knits-Designs-Beautiful-Color/dp/1620331268">Alexis Winslow's <i>Graphic Knits</i></a>. My project was <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/10/finished-blue-green-bowerbird-wrap.html">the Bowerbird Wrap</a> in a lovely soft merino-silk blend. I have worn this snuggly, soft thing as my go-to scarf almost every day since completing it.
<p><p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15359299178" title="Mikhaela&#x27;s Blue Green Bowerbird Wrap by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3949/15359299178_f355c46694_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Mikhaela&#x27;s Blue Green Bowerbird Wrap"></a>
<p>I meant to make maternity stuff this year, but it never actually happened—I had plenty of items left from last time, plus some great used and hand-me-downs, plus I never intend to be pregnant again... so instead I binged on making baby things. Lots and lots of baby things! For friends' babies, and my own baby-to-be.
<p>From August to December, I made five baby sweaters/hoodies/cardigans (three sewn, and two knit), two baby kimono tops, five baby hats (three sewn, two knit), two pairs of baby pants, a pair of socks, and a pair of booties. I especially had fun making baby items from upcycled cashmere thrift-store sweaters. <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/12/last-minute-baby-sewing-binge-before.html">This is just a little sampling</a>, as I haven't even photographed or blogged them all yet:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15931702532" title="Last-Minute Baby Sewing &amp; Knitting Binge by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7500/15931702532_aac6ba7b84_c.jpg" width="800" height="800" alt="Last-Minute Baby Sewing &amp; Knitting Binge"></a>
<p>I also had a lot of fun doing sewing projects with my four-year-old daughter Z, and experimenting with cloth doll making. Her proudest creations to date have been <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/12/the-story-of-luna-mermaid-fairy.html">Luna, the Black Mermaid Fairy Superhero with Purple Dreadlocks</a>, a set of as-yet-unblogged stuffed coffee mug dolls, and a <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2015/01/a-surprise-wax-print-quilt-by-big-sis.html">wax-print quilt for her baby sibling</a>. 2014 was also the year <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/12/the-four-year-old-uses-sewing-machine.html">she operated the sewing machine by herself for the first time</a> (with cautious hovering Mommy guiding her closely). Here she is with her beloved Luna:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15721605560" title="Z&#x27;s Mermaid Fairy Superhero doll is done! by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7487/15721605560_1f3aaa09c6_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Z&#x27;s Mermaid Fairy Superhero doll is done!"></a>
<p>So... I'm not quite sure how to add up all of 2014's finished objects, but in total I think I sewed or knitted (including baby stuff, because I can):
<ul>
<li>4 skirts.
<li>6 sweaters/hoodies/cardigans.
<li>1 jacket.
<li>2 dresses.
<li>7 tops.
<li>5 hats.
<li>2 pairs socks/booties.
<li>1 scarf/wrap
<li>2 pairs of pants.
<li>3 cloth dolls.
</ul>
<p>For a grand total of 33 finished sewn or knitted objects—probably a record for me, but then again... baby stuff is so quick and tiny.
<p>I don't have that many unfinished objects carrying over into 2015, either — just a pair of chartreuse <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/02/knitting-again-knotty-cabled-chartreuse.html">Knotty gloves</a> I abandoned when they started coming out WAY too big...
<p><p><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/12785118715/" title="Knotty cabled gloves in progress (in chartreuse merino sock yarn) by M1khaela, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2891/12785118715_7d110b1f0c_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Knotty cabled gloves in progress (in chartreuse merino sock yarn)"></a></center>
<p>... and <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/09/hetty-cardigan-try-on-for-your.html">my almost-there blue Hetty cardigan by Andi Satterlund</a> that I will return to finishing when I can actually wear it.
<p><p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14930647098" title="Hetty cardigan progress by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3872/14930647098_6c89af3b9f_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Hetty cardigan progress"></a>
<p>Looking ahead to 2015, I don't plan to be too ambitious with my crafting, since I'm 38 weeks pregnant now and will soon be a sleep-deprived and milk-spattered half-awake mama of two. Partway through December I got put on partial bedrest, so it's mostly been a lot of knitting while lying on my side since then, with only tiny little sewing interludes. I did start making some DIY nursing pads recently, and maybe—MAYBE—I will make some nursing tops as well.
<p>But this little cutie (shown here at 23 weeks looking just like Big Sis as a baby) will definitely be my main make of 2015:
<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wdGPRPOLo04/VKoanBvd_pI/AAAAAAAACv0/CUhDQ_44otc/s1600/Baby%2BWood23weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wdGPRPOLo04/VKoanBvd_pI/AAAAAAAACv0/CUhDQ_44otc/s1600/Baby%2BWood23weeks.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>Here's to a wonderful New Year!<img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/Y5FISaZvHVs" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com2http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2015/01/2014-makes-in-review-sewing-knitting.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-19473853656465969122015-01-03T16:42:00.001-05:002015-01-03T16:45:03.266-05:00A Surprise Wax Print Quilt by Big Sis for Baby<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16001938449" title="Z makes a quilt for her baby sibling by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8605/16001938449_a064c4449f_z.jpg" width="640" height="478" alt="Z makes a quilt for her baby sibling"></a>
<p>So I was talking to my daughter on video chat (she'd been staying with my parents for a few days while I recovered from yet another bad cold) when suddenly she surprised me with a gift she'd been making for her baby sibling — a quilt sewn from scraps of African wax print fabrics left over from outfits my mom and I made for her (like <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/double-wax-print-impulse-sewing-made-by.html">this one</a>).
<p>I have to say I was a little stunned. I <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/12/the-four-year-old-uses-sewing-machine.html">knew she was getting interested in sewing</a>, but I haven't even finished making a quilt myself in years (though I keep meaning to before baby comes—we'll see).
<p>Ms. Z of course had a lot of help from my mom (who is an expert quilter), but she cut out all the pieces herself...
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16186114551" title="Z makes a quilt for her baby sibling by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7500/16186114551_cd1e6312ab_z.jpg" width="640" height="478" alt="Z makes a quilt for her baby sibling"></a>
<p>... and arranged them into various formations for my mom to appliqué to the blocks. She also sewed some of the straight stitching lines herself.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16000549268" title="Z makes a quilt for her baby sibling by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7526/16000549268_6ed7186d1d_z.jpg" width="640" height="478" alt="Z makes a quilt for her baby sibling"></a>
<p>She is so proud of herself, and I really can't blame her! <img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/2wNSKo-SgW0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com15http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2015/01/a-surprise-wax-print-quilt-by-big-sis.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-25164137068916507942014-12-23T17:00:00.000-05:002014-12-23T17:00:03.593-05:00The baby knitting spree continues! (36 weeks along)<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15403055553" title="Orange baby knit set by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7491/15403055553_8c4512888b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Orange baby knit set"></a>
<p>Well partial bedrest may not be conducive to totally decluttering the apartment or decorating the "nursery" (otherwise known as the cosleeper attached to my side of the bed, since baby will be rooming with us for at least a year), but it definitely helps with the knitting mojo.
<p>Most evenings of late have been spent lying on my left side feeling super-uncomfortably pregnant, watching <i>Marvel: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.</i> on Netflix with the husband and knitting some last-minute baby things.
<p>After finishing the orange wool <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/12/last-minute-baby-sewing-binge-before.html">Beyond Puerperium cardigan sweate</a>r I blogged about recently, I decided to make a matching hat and booties with the leftover yarn.
<p>The hat is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/aviatrix-hat">free Aviatrix pattern</a> by Justine Turner — <a href="http://ravel.me/m1khaela/ah">my version Raveled here with all construction details</a>. It was super quick to knit, has a fun construction method, and should keep baby's ears nice and warm. Again, the yarn is soft, squishy washable merino wool — <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Malabrigo-Rios-Yarn-Glazed-Carrot/dp/B008H4U4SE">Malabrigo Rios in Glazed Carrot</a>.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16022006592" title="Aviatrix hat by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7506/16022006592_d92ce9920b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Aviatrix hat"></a>
<p>The booties are the <a href="http://www.lobolita.com/2010/01/gansey-booties/">free Gansey Booties pattern</a> (<a href="http://ravel.me/m1khaela/gb">my version Raveled here</a>) and while they are cute and a quick knit, they inspired a lot of reknitting and swearing. The directions for the short-rows were not very clear, and I ended up knitting each bootie differently to compensate, so they don't really match. The instructions are to turn at the end of each short row--but not to wrap--and I wasn't sure if I was then supposed to start knitting again with the last stitch knitted, or with the one after the turn, or... am I just reading this wrong?
<p>If I attempt them again, I'll also make the cuff a lot longer to give them a better chance of staying on.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15836648929" title="Gansey booties by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7523/15836648929_21a939a535_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Gansey booties"></a>\
<p>Finally, I am almost done knitting the <a href="http://carinaspencer.com/shop/gift-wrap-sweater/">Gift Wrap Baby Sweater by Carina Spencer</a> (<a href="http://ravel.me/m1khaela/gws">Raveled here</a>), a kimono-type raglan sweater with a cool contrast border. I originally had a grand scheme to come up with some kind of TARDIS pattern to take advantage of my blue, black and light grey yarn, but got lazy and just decided to stripe the darn thing. Here it is from a week ago, but I've now finished the border and started the sleeves:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15400426954" title="Gift Wrap Baby Cardigan progress by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7540/15400426954_2e2f4292e3_c.jpg" width="800" height="800" alt="Gift Wrap Baby Cardigan progress"></a>
<p>The yarn is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Debbie-Bliss-Cashmerino-Aran-Yarn/dp/B00C9S5ILM">Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran</a>, a super-soft and washable merino/acrylic blend with a bit of cashmere thrown in for good measure (or good marketing, anyway).
<p>And the panic (and excitement) is really setting in here. I feel really ready, but also not ready at all. And Baby Wood has now suddenly flipped from a nice head-down position to a terrible and uncomfortable sideways/transverse position and refuses to budge, despite all the crawling around on the rug and weird off-the-couch headstands I've been doing as per the <a href="http://spinningbabies.com/">Spinning Babies</a> website for "optimal fetal positioning." There's still a few weeks for baby to turn back (and there's always external version) but it's freaking me out a little. Turn baby, turn! <img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/saHjqN2Di70" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com5http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/12/the-baby-knitting-spree-continues-36.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-85714633509665916782014-12-22T22:37:00.001-05:002014-12-22T23:25:31.978-05:00How old were you when you first used a sewing machine? (with poll)<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16020544592" title="First time operating the sewing machine all by herself (with very close supervision from Mommy) to make a gift for her one-year-old cousin. Age 4 1/2. She was extremely careful.#sewing #sewingwithkids (tagging @fireapplefarm ) by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7474/16020544592_05175e9e44_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="First time operating the sewing machine all by herself (with very close supervision from Mommy) to make a gift for her one-year-old cousin. Age 4 1/2. She was extremely careful.#sewing #sewingwithkids (tagging @fireapplefarm )"></a>
<p>After months of pleading from the four-year-old, last week I finally let her operate the sewing machine by herself —with extremely close and cautious supervision from me — to make a Christmas present for her baby cousin R. And it went great, actually! She was incredibly careful, sewed slowly and cautiously along a chalked seamline with a fairly even seam allowance, and didn't get her hands or fingers anywhere near the needle.
<p>I think her favorite part was pressing the foot pedal, which I put up on a stool for her. (Or maybe it was using the different buttons on my computerized machine to select the stitch length and pattern—after sewing the plain seams, she went a little crazy with the built-in flowers and leaves and diamond embroidery stitches on my Viking).
<p>The present she was making is a pattern for smiling stuffed coffee mug dolls and saucers. She picked it out of the adorable Japanese doll-making book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Aranzi-Aronzo-Dolls-Lets-Stuff/dp/1932234799/">Fun Dolls</i> by Aranzi Aranzo</a> (last used when <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2013/07/teaching-girls-to-sew-fun-dolls-eyelash.html">Z and her older cousin T made "Eyelash Bunny" dolls together</a>). Here's a shot right before she sewed the pieces together—we just cut the pieces out of an extra soft cotton flannel baby blanket, and I appliquéd on eyes cut from an old black T-shirt:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/16016173715" title="While Daddy was off protesting, Z decided stuffed coffee mug dolls would make ideal holiday presents. She scanned the pattern into the computer, printed it (with my help) &amp; cut out the pieces &amp; I let her press the foot pedal too. (from the book Fun Dolls by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7550/16016173715_073248b5fd_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="While Daddy was off protesting, Z decided stuffed coffee mug dolls would make ideal holiday presents. She scanned the pattern into the computer, printed it (with my help) &amp; cut out the pieces &amp; I let her press the foot pedal too. (from the book Fun Dolls"></a>
<p>She has been hand-sewing, embroidering and helping cut out patterns since she was three (which I wrote about last year in the post <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2013/09/i-want-my-kid-to-be-able-to-make-or-fix.html">"I want my kid to be able to make or fix anything!"</a>) and slowly working her way up to using the machine over the past year. I started by letting her press the buttons to select stitches for me, and then eventually let her use the foot pedal while I steered the fabric, or sit in my lap and help me seal the fabric.
<p>She knows how to attach a button (by hand) or a snap (with a hammer), the basic parts of the sewing machine, the difference between knit and woven fabric (she likes to play a game of guessing which clothes she has are woven, and which are knit), and what stabilizers and appliqués are.
<p>I think teaching her to sew and watching her have so much fun with it might be even more fun than sewing myself. It's hard to believe I'm about to have a new little baby who will have no sense of danger and responsibility and whom I will have to keep far, far away from all sewing supplies! It also brought back fun memories of when my mom taught ME to sew on her machine when I was a kid. Here's the first skirt I made (with Mom's help), at age five:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/4427464366" title="My first skirt! by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4018/4427464366_b4c95277f2_z.jpg?zz=1" width="640" height="395" alt="My first skirt!"></a>
<p>Of course all that sewing is hard work... she passed out on the couch halfway through stuffing the first doll:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15404174983" title="Sewing is hard work! Napping on the couch with her coffee cup doll in progress. #sewing #sewingwithkids by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7555/15404174983_4b9697d8e9_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Sewing is hard work! Napping on the couch with her coffee cup doll in progress. #sewing #sewingwithkids"></a>
<p>Finished object pictures soon. They really turned out cute, and she's been running around pretending to drink tea or coffee out of them.
<p>So: how old were you when you used a sewing machine for the first time? Did you learn as a kid or come to it as a teen or adult?
<p><iframe src="http://files.quizsnack.com/iframe/embed.html?hash=qhj0ze4s&width=250&height=370&wmode=transparent&t=1419304818&width=250&height=370" width="250" height="370" seamless="seamless" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe>
<p>Meanwhile... we somehow managed to corral her and get a semi-serious Chanukah/Christmas/New Year's holiday photo out of her! (After about 40 tries with the self-timer):
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15851862047" title="Holiday Family Photo 2014 by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7570/15851862047_f74a9ef930_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Holiday Family Photo 2014"></a>
<p>Most of the pictures were more like this:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15851861657" title="Holiday Family Photo 2014--goofy by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8605/15851861657_dff982684a_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Holiday Family Photo 2014--goofy"></a>
<P>Boy is that baby belly huge! 35 weeks and counting... Happy holidays everyone!
<img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/oW68lBQ7Qdw" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com17http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/12/the-four-year-old-uses-sewing-machine.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-75799826837364435172014-12-06T09:00:00.000-05:002014-12-06T09:00:02.435-05:00Last-Minute Baby Sewing Binge (Before Being Stuck in Bed) — With Tools and Robots!<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15931702532" title="Last-Minute Baby Sewing &amp; Knitting Binge by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7500/15931702532_aac6ba7b84_c.jpg" width="800" height="800" alt="Last-Minute Baby Sewing &amp; Knitting Binge"></a>
<P>Up until last week, the only item I had actually finished for Baby Wood was a single pair of Better Than Booties baby socks (the green ones shown above, <a href="http://ravel.me/m1khaela/btbbs3">Raveled here</a>). Then I looked through my stash of newborn and tiny baby items and completely panicked, because I have almost NO gender-neutral clothes for tiny babies (what if we have a boy?!), and very few warm winter clothes (Z was a summer baby).
<p>I made a thrifting expedition and scored 15 cute little second-hand gender-neutral baby things for $26, but dressing baby in store-bought clothes isn't as SPECIAL or FUN as putting him/her in something me-made, now is it?
<p>So I ramped up my baby knitting queue... and last Sunday, while the four-year-old was visiting her grandparents, I went on a bit of a mad sewing binge, tracing, cutting and sewing seven little itty bitty baby garments in one day--more than I've sewn in one day ever, and more than I've sewn for months total. AND all the fabric and patterns had been in my stash at least four years, or were secondhand, so—SCORE FOR STASHBUSTING and CUTTING UP OLD CLOTHES TO MAKE NEW ONES.
<p>Mainly, I wanted to make some cute, snuggly, special baby outfits for the new one to wear home from the birthing center.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15931702072" title="Orange &amp; Blue Baby Set in Progress by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7555/15931702072_d7b737c409_c.jpg" width="642" height="800" alt="Orange &amp; Blue Baby Set in Progress"></a>
<blockquote>
<b>Set #1: Orange overload:</b> A little cotton kimono knit top with contrast ribbed bands and cuffs in an orange tool-themed print with matching pants and hat, plus an orange merino wool side-buttoning cardigan and little wool booties (in progress).
<ul>
<li><b>The kimono top and pants</b> are from the wonderful <a href="http://www.newconceptions.com/babyessentials.htm">New Conceptions Baby Essentials</a> layette sewing pattern set. Kimono tops are great for pulling over big wobbly newborn heads, and I love that the sleeves and pants are finished with cuffs instead of hems—I highly recommend this easy and versatile pattern. The main fabric is a soft cotton interlock with a tool pattern I bought ages ago from the <a href="http://thefabricfairy.com/">Fabric Fairy</a>, and the navy and orange ribbing were from a <a href="http://www.sewbaby.com/shopbaby/index2.php?cPath=244_314">Sew Baby ribbing</a> color assortment. I made the newborn size, and sewed everything but the top hem and the pants waistband on the serger.
<li>The super-simple hat pattern is part of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/K2433-Rompers-Sewing-Pattern-Jumpsuits/dp/B00889Y88A">Kwik Sew 2433</a>, another great knit baby clothes layette pattern for rompers, jumpsuits, hats and booties.
<li>The side-buttoning cardigan is the Beyond Puerperium cardigan pattern, a fun and simple raglan sweater (the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/puerperium-cardigan">newborn-size Puerperium</a> is free, but I bought <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/beyond-puerperium">the version with more size and yarn weight options</a>). The yarn is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Malabrigo-Rios-016-Glazed-Carrot/dp/B00L2GWBEY">Malabrigo Rios in the color "Glazed Carrot"</a>, a soft, washable, squishy worsted-weight merino yarn. (Cardigan <a href="http://ravel.me/m1khaela/bp">raveled here with full details</a>).
<li>The in-progress booties are knit from the free <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gansey-booties">Gansey Bootie</a>s pattern in the same yarn, and I have an earflap hat in progress (the free <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/aviatrix-hat">Aviatrix hat patter</a>n) as well to finish off the ball.
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>I just love the tool pattern on this fabric—perfect for a little girl or boy from a family of makers, crafters and builders!
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15746331589" title="Tool fabric closeup by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7561/15746331589_f3ba999378_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Tool fabric closeup"></a>
<p>And aren't these buttons pretty? I do not want to talk about how much they cost, but I got them at La Casita Yarn Shop Café, an awesome local Brooklyn yarn store:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15286588234" title="Pumpkin Beyond Puerperium Baby Cardigan by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8584/15286588234_826cec25b2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Pumpkin Beyond Puerperium Baby Cardigan"></a>
<p>Next up:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15316957944" title="Baby kimono top set with blue robot appliqué and red cashmere baby hoodie by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7581/15316957944_25cececef2_c.jpg" width="800" height="540" alt="Baby kimono top set with blue robot appliqué and red cashmere baby hoodie"></a>
<blockquote>
<b>Set #2: Gray and red and blue with a robot:</b> Another knit baby set, plus a red cabled cashmere cardigan hoodie.
<ul>
<li><b>The kimono top and pants and hat</b> are from the same patterns as set #1. The main fabric is a super-soft cotton/rayon rib knit I cut out of a top from a giant bag of second-hand maternity clothes I bought for a song from a local mom (I have plenty of things to wear for the next 6-8 weeks, don't worry). Immediately after it was done I decided it was too boring and needed an appliqué—my husband suggested a robot would be just the thing, and I think he was right.
<li><b>The red cashmere cardigan hoodie</b> is my TNT baby hoodie from <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kwik-Sews-Sewing-Kerstin-Martensson/dp/091321213X">Kwik Sew's Sewing For Baby</a></i>—this is my fourth version. I cut it from a super-soft designer thrift-store sweater that had some stains and snags. The best part was I didn't have to attach any sleeve cuffs or bottom waistband—I just cut the pattern to include the original ribbing. I stabilized the front facings with bright turquoise petersham ribbon from Pacific Trimming and applied blue snaps from Sew Baby. I was going to put an appliqué on this piece too, but decided it didn't really need one.
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>Don't you love a pretty piece of petersham or grosgrain in a sweater? (And no, I haven't finished applying the inside snaps yet).
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15938553222" title="Red baby cashmere hoodie cardigan closeup by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8637/15938553222_e6357f73ce_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Red baby cashmere hoodie cardigan closeup"></a>
<p>Here was the original sweater... there is something SO satisfying about cutting up ruined garments to make pretty new ones, isn't there? Not to mention that cashmere knits can cost <a href="http://www.moodfabrics.com/pale-apricot-luxe-cashmere-knit-fw20403.html">$60</a>-<a href="http://bandjfabrics.com/fabrics/cashmere-knits">$175 a yard</a> if you can even FIND them or that <a href="https://www.jcrew.com/girls_category/baby/crewcutscashmere/crewcutscashmeresweaters/PRD~03463/03463.jsp?Nbrd=J&Nloc=en_US&Nrpp=48&Npge=1&Ntrm=cashmere+baby&isSaleItem=false&color_name=DUSK%20NAVY&isFromSearch=true&isNewSearch=true&hash=row0">new cashmere baby sweaters run $100-$300</a>... whereas this one came to less than $5 in materials:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15310116914" title="Old sweater I cut up to make a new cashmere baby hoodie by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7578/15310116914_bfbe035f27_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Old sweater I cut up to make a new cashmere baby hoodie"></a>
<p>Here's the robot appliqué in progress—it's just a scrap of bright turqoise ponté, applied with fusible webbing, then stitched down around the edges by machine:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15935295245" title="Sewed a newborn kimono top set, then decided it was too boring and needed an appliqué robot with embroidered face. I kind of want to appliqué everything at the moment. #sewingforbabies #sewing by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8675/15935295245_e23bd075e0_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Sewed a newborn kimono top set, then decided it was too boring and needed an appliqué robot with embroidered face. I kind of want to appliqué everything at the moment. #sewingforbabies #sewing"></a>
<p>The eyes and heart I embroidered by hand. Which is something I'm really into lately:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15938552792" title="Blue robot knit appliqué closeup by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7494/15938552792_7ae44e7cc2_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Blue robot knit appliqué closeup"></a>
<p>And that's good, because yesterday my midwife ordered me onto scheduling resting (basically part-time bedrest) due to some severe swelling in my legs and feet and other assorted reasons. I need to spend half my days in bed lying on my left side, and minimize time standing/sitting. So... I sense a lot of embroidery and knitting in the next weeks, and not so much the sewing machine.
<p>Anyone else been through this? The thought of lying down so much is driving me crazy... I'm a doer and a maker and I've got a demanding full-time job to do and a four-year-old to chase around! And my apartment is so NOT baby-ready, and I know I'll be too exhausted once baby actually arrives to do much of anything but nurse and sleep (when I can).
<p>Bonus photo: my four-year-old came with me to the yarn store to buy the buttons for the orange cardigan, and she insisted we had to make a list first to remember we needed 6 buttons:
<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ojo5KxyzHzk/VIIdBbCa7bI/AAAAAAAACuI/hJ8KibY0Y1s/s1600/2014-11-25%2B10.34.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ojo5KxyzHzk/VIIdBbCa7bI/AAAAAAAACuI/hJ8KibY0Y1s/s1600/2014-11-25%2B10.34.18.jpg" /></a></div><img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/Di8n5jDeDjw" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com17http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/12/last-minute-baby-sewing-binge-before.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-46430536218389915782014-12-02T18:30:00.000-05:002014-12-02T21:20:15.387-05:00The Story of Luna, the Black Mermaid Fairy Superhero Doll with Purple Dreadlocks! (Pt. 1)<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15721605560" title="Z&#x27;s Mermaid Fairy Superhero doll is done! by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7487/15721605560_1f3aaa09c6_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Z&#x27;s Mermaid Fairy Superhero doll is done!"></a>
<p>Meet Luna, the Mermaid Fairy Superhero. Like any proper superhero, she has an origin story:
<p>Once upon a time there was a four-year-old girl named Z who loved all things fantastical and science fictional: mermaids, fairies, superheroes, robots, witches, unicorns, vampires and rocketships. Z would sit for hours and draw pictures of everything from time machines and flying ponies to Harry Potter:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15628288865" title="Last night Z and I watched Harry Potter &amp; today she surprises me w/ this drawing of Harry catching the Snitch and Hermione and Ron brewing potions. #kidart by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3948/15628288865_cc07e16558_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Last night Z and I watched Harry Potter &amp; today she surprises me w/ this drawing of Harry catching the Snitch and Hermione and Ron brewing potions. #kidart"></a>
<p>One fine summer day, Ms. Z and her mommy and daddy visited the Brooklyn Aquarium. Z was excited to see the many soft little snuggly mermaid cloth dolls for sale at the gift shop ... but sad that not ONE of them had brown skin or curly hair like her. She settled for a pale mermaid dolly with straight brown hair but asked her mommy -- where can I find one that looks more like me?
<p>And so little Z and her mommy set out on a quest. They searched far and wide across the land and internet, but nothing was quite right. There was a brown-skinned mermaid Barbie, but she had straight hair and was made of plastic. There were soft snuggly brown-skinned cloth dolls, but they had no magic powers or mermaid tails. One day they journeyed to all four toy stores in their neighborhood: the first three had no black dolls at all; the fourth had beautiful handmade Waldorf cloth dolls with many skin colors and hair styles, but they were $100-$200 each and had no magical qualities.
<p>By now little Z and her mommy were feeling quite cranky, but luckily they had a magic power of their own: sewing.
<p>So they sketched their ideas:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15931664181" title="doll ideas by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7475/15931664181_bc1d698b53_c.jpg" width="800" height="800" alt="doll ideas"></a>
<P>Made a simple pattern...
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15881188085" title="Z&#x27;s design (with help from mommy): Mermaid Superhero Fairy doll with Afro in progress... by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7513/15881188085_46a2e7ff0f_c.jpg" width="800" height="800" alt="Z&#x27;s design (with help from mommy): Mermaid Superhero Fairy doll with Afro in progress..."></a>
<p>Gathered up some fabric scraps and curly bouclé yarn, and got to work... Cutting:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15693887190" title="Cutting her pattern by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8596/15693887190_c05cba3a9f_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Cutting her pattern"></a>
<p>Pinning...
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15879206291" title="Pinning her fabric by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7511/15879206291_baf13050b6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Pinning her fabric"></a>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15879205861" title="Pinning together... by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8593/15879205861_9f8e1b1f5a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Pinning together..."></a>
<p>Sewing, embroidering and stuffing...
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15695171069" title="Dollmaking adventures: Mermaid Superhero Fairy doll with Afro in progress... by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7567/15695171069_8c79a0c502_c.jpg" width="800" height="800" alt="Dollmaking adventures: Mermaid Superhero Fairy doll with Afro in progress..."></a>
<p>At first the mommy sewed most of the doll by hand because her machine was in the shop, but then a friend lent her a vintage Featherweight and things sped up:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15695170939" title="Snuggling with the almost-finished doll by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7520/15695170939_55416b11e0_c.jpg" width="800" height="800" alt="Snuggling with the almost-finished doll"></a>
<p>Finally, Luna was done!
<p><p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15908906055" title="Z&#x27;s Mermaid Fairy Superhero doll is done! by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7518/15908906055_feebe312c9_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Z&#x27;s Mermaid Fairy Superhero doll is done!"></a>
<p>She was just what the little girl wanted: a mermaid fairy superhero with brown skin, curly (purple) dreadlocked hair, sparkly fairy wings, plus a crown and magic wand.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15286649094" title="Z&#x27;s Mermaid Fairy Superhero doll is done! by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7492/15286649094_f1ae4b18a2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Z&#x27;s Mermaid Fairy Superhero doll is done!"></a>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15908905695" title="Z&#x27;s Mermaid Fairy Superhero doll is done! by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7469/15908905695_06af8f561c_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Z&#x27;s Mermaid Fairy Superhero doll is done!"></a>
<p>And the little girl and her mommy were very, very happy. THE END.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15723141717" title="Z&#x27;s Mermaid Fairy Superhero doll is done! by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7563/15723141717_c4002a1aa8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Z&#x27;s Mermaid Fairy Superhero doll is done!"></a>
<p>... or is it?
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ltA2la52T7Y/VH5BQ7sLOHI/AAAAAAAACtM/EwsV099ywg0/s1600/Super-Ruby-Doll-Rough-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ltA2la52T7Y/VH5BQ7sLOHI/AAAAAAAACtM/EwsV099ywg0/s1600/Super-Ruby-Doll-Rough-1.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>P.S. I am going to also (if I can find time) do a little post this week with the (free) PDF for the pattern plus some basic construction details and a list of all the supplies required and doll-making resources, etc. Just in case you want one of your own... <img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/qrAklL1ZVNE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com31http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/12/the-story-of-luna-mermaid-fairy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-33686105494706579392014-11-25T23:12:00.000-05:002014-11-25T23:14:35.383-05:00Done: Bicycle appliqué cashmere cardigan with matching hat refashion<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15251351224" title="Cashmere Baby Cardigan with Bike Appliqué and Matching Hat by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7478/15251351224_4c17df0dea_b.jpg" width="1024" height="792" alt="Cashmere Baby Cardigan with Bike Appliqué and Matching Hat"></a>
<p>Four years ago I picked up two lovely, soft — and totally shapeless — cashmere cardigans at a thrift store for a few dollars each, with the vague dream of refashioning/upcycling them into warm and snuggly baby leggings for my then-tiny daughter.
<p>Those snuggly leggings never came to be... but I thought a cashmere cardigan and matching hat would make a perfect baby gift for a bicycle-loving knitterly (i.e. unafraid of handwashing) friend of mine who had her baby girl last week, and so here we are:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15872964432" title="Cashmere Baby Cardigan with Bike Appliqué and Matching Hat by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8668/15872964432_19f70159cc_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Cashmere Baby Cardigan with Bike Appliqué and Matching Hat"></a>
<blockquote><h3>The basics</h3>
<p><b>Patterns:</b>
<ul>
<li>This raglan cardigan is part of the baby jogging suit from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kwik-Sews-Sewing-Kerstin-Martensson/dp/091321213X">Kwik Sew's Sewing For Baby</a>. I've made it twice as a hoodie (once in <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2010/03/digital-fabric-printing-fun-blue-doodle.html">a custom Spoonflower print for my daughter</a>, <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/08/something-else-made-during-me-made-may.html">once in an owl print for a friend's baby</a>), but wanted to make the collared version this time so I could make a matching hat.
<li>The bear-eared hat is the "Ernie" beanie from the 1/2013 issue of Ottobre—a pattern I do NOT recommend, because if followed as written, it leaves no actual opening for a head. For real. (<a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/10/sewcation-fail-defeated-by-baby-beanie.html">You may recall this led to tears and excessive consumption of mocktails</a> during my October sewcation.)
</ul>
<p><b>Fabric:</b> A cut-up thrifted Lord and Taylor two-ply cashmere pullover sweater, plus some scraps of blue bamboo knit and some turquoise wool felt for the appliqué. Much better than buying actual cashmere yardage, since I could repurpose the ribbing as well.
<p><b>Notions:</b> Embroidery floss, fusible webbing (part of my dwindling Lite Steam-a-Seam 2 packet), <a href="http://www.sewbaby.com/shopbaby/index3.php?cPath=247">colorful snaps from Sew Baby</a>, petersham ribbon from Pacific Trimming.
<p><b>Size:</b> Medium (3-6 months) for the sweater, and I just eyeballed the hat size to match.</blockquote>
<p>Here's what the adult sweater looked like before I cut into it:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15379023506" title="First #sewcation project: appliquéd cashmere baby jackets from repurposed adult-size sweaters. #sewingforbabies #sewing by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3856/15379023506_b54fcbd363_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="First #sewcation project: appliquéd cashmere baby jackets from repurposed adult-size sweaters. #sewingforbabies #sewing"></a>
<p><b>Inspiration:</b> I knew the gift had to be bicycle-themed, because my friend and her husband are the kind of people who manage to squeeze five bikes into their 1-bedroom Brooklyn apartment. (All of which they ride, frequently). I cut my appliqué design out freehand based on this cute little T-shirt from Mini Boden:
<p><center><a data-pin-do="embedPin" href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/251005379207607687/"></a>
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<p><b>Modifications:</b> No modifications, but I'm embarrassed at how much unpicking was involved in both of these items—somehow I managed to attach the collar wrong twice, and the ribbed hem too.
<p><b>Construction notes</b>: The cardigan is simple, if you actually pay close attention to the instructions, which I apparently did not. SO. MUCH. UNPICKING. OF. SERGER. THREADS. I did 90 percent of this project on the serger, reasoning that would keep the fine-knit cashmere from unraveling better than the machine.
<p>The embroidery bit was super fun—I fused the little wool felt shapes to the cardigan with fusible webbing, then just played around with some back stitches and running stitches.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15687591079" title="Cashmere Baby Cardigan with Bike Appliqué and Matching Hat by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7567/15687591079_a791d02977_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Cashmere Baby Cardigan with Bike Appliqué and Matching Hat"></a>
<p>I initially put a bike wheel on the hat, but it looked odd and I replaced it with a heart:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15873609105" title="Cashmere Baby Cardigan with Bike Appliqué and Matching Hat by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7538/15873609105_11ca3f8017_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Cashmere Baby Cardigan with Bike Appliqué and Matching Hat"></a>
<p>Finally, I wrapped the wee soft things in some of my daughter's extra artwork (with her permission), and tied them with a bit of leftover yarn—so much more fun than commercial wrapping paper and ribbon, am I right?
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15686089738" title="Cashmere Baby Cardigan with Bike Appliqué and Matching Hat by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8570/15686089738_0dca940da7_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Cashmere Baby Cardigan with Bike Appliqué and Matching Hat"></a>
<p>Hmmm... I kinda want to make a matching set for my baby-to-be now with the remaining cardigan, a nice red cabled knit — they could wear them when they play together.
<p>P.S. I am happy to report that my daughter's scheme for a handmade mermaid fairy superhero doll with a big curly purple Afro is well underway—we designed the pattern together and she's mostly sewn and stuffed—all she needs now are a few finishing details. More to come soon!
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7sPuZAtHzI/VHVSfiFLBDI/AAAAAAAACsU/cJa_riy7kuU/s1600/2014-11-22%2B14.01.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7sPuZAtHzI/VHVSfiFLBDI/AAAAAAAACsU/cJa_riy7kuU/s640/2014-11-22%2B14.01.15.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p3Ty8iQgijw/VHVSgX90H8I/AAAAAAAACsY/C2laGgNIxFc/s1600/IMG_6505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p3Ty8iQgijw/VHVSgX90H8I/AAAAAAAACsY/C2laGgNIxFc/s640/IMG_6505.JPG" /></a></div>
<img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/qKA140h_MOM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com9http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/11/done-bicycle-applique-cashmere-cardigan.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-38387898850756547032014-11-21T09:00:00.000-05:002014-11-21T12:44:37.393-05:00Ghostbusters family Halloween costumes/cosplay—with all four Ghostbusters represented!<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15058352714" title="Who ya gonna call? All 4 of us in our #Ghostbusters #Halloween costumes. We had a little #foodallergy friendly party at Z&#x27;s school and handed out little toys and safe treats. by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7488/15058352714_0312a96632_o.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Who ya gonna call? All 4 of us in our #Ghostbusters #Halloween costumes. We had a little #foodallergy friendly party at Z&#x27;s school and handed out little toys and safe treats."></a>
<p>Oh goodness, it's been quiet over here. I'm 31 weeks pregnant now, and have been in bed for two weeks with a horrid painful sinus infection I can't take any serious medications for (I'm doing Tylenol, hot/cold compresses, saline nasal rinses and the like, but obviously steroids are not an option and I don't want to mess with antibiotics while pregnant either).
<p>BUT I wanted to pop in to belatedly share the fun we had a few weeks ago in our Ghostbusters Halloween costumes:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15058375014" title="My 2 favorite #Ghostbusters: @whatmashekadid and Ms. Z. by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7566/15058375014_6b779e034b_o.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="My 2 favorite #Ghostbusters: @whatmashekadid and Ms. Z."></a>
<p>I actually broke several sewing machine needles on these costumes, even though they aren't of course totally sewn from scratch. But I had to tighten up the size large flight suit for myself as I was swimming in it. I took the arms in by about two inches of width each, and the legs by about four inches each (they were HUGE)... and I accidentally sewed over a zipper in the process.
<p>The elbow pads were also from scratch—a lot of Ghostbusters cosplayers buy volleyball or judo knee pads and spraypaint them gray, but I figured it'd be easier to just take some gray doubleknit I had lying around and make my own little pattern. A few more broken needles ensued:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15669511101" title="Last-minute slapdash #Halloween costume #sewing: kid-sized improvised #Ghostbusters elbow pads. by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7472/15669511101_3e5bc9115e_o.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Last-minute slapdash #Halloween costume #sewing: kid-sized improvised #Ghostbusters elbow pads."></a>
<p>But so worth it, right?
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15055716273" title="On her way to school in her complete #Ghostbusters Stantz #Halloween costume. I broke 2 needles #sewing those elbow pads last night but so worth it for the joy on her face. Containment unit is a vintage 1980s toy my aunt still had in her basement. by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7551/15055716273_d4be05a693_o.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="On her way to school in her complete #Ghostbusters Stantz #Halloween costume. I broke 2 needles #sewing those elbow pads last night but so worth it for the joy on her face. Containment unit is a vintage 1980s toy my aunt still had in her basement."></a>
<p>The containment unit she's holding is a vintage toy loaned from my cousin, by the way.
<p>Anyway, these costumes were relatively simple and low on the actual sewing. We just bought:
<ul><li><a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR11.TRC1.A0.H0.Xtan+flightsuit&_nkw=tan+flightsuit&_sacat=0">Used tan flightsuits from eBay</a> for the adults—they were a bit worn and stained, but that adds versimilitude, I think (clearly those are ectoplasm stains, right?)
<li><a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kids-Coverall-Air-Force-Type-Flight-Suit-Olive-Drab-by-Rothco-/151046469498?pt=US_Hunting_Clothes&var=&hash=item232b12377a">New kid-size flightsuit</a> from eBay for the kiddo.
<li><a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xgrommet+belt+2+hole&_nkw=grommet+belt+2+hole&_sacat=0">White canvas web belts with double grommet holes</a> (we had to cut Z's down to kid size).
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=ghosbusters%20patches">Ghostbusters iron-on logo patche</a>s.
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ghostbusters-Set-NAME-Embroidered-PATCHES/dp/B004RD9B2Y/">Set of four embroidered iron-on name patches</a>: hubby was Zeddemore (he even grew a mustache for the role), I was Spengler (glasses), kiddo was Stantz (she's very excitable and likes wearing goggles on her head), baby was Venkman (by default).
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hobart-770129-Oxy-Acet-Goggle/dp/B001FOPXGG">Cheapo welding goggles. </a>
</ul>
<p>We did MEAN to make some ghost traps (<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/251005379207157957/">video tutorial here</a>) and proton packs and PKE meters, but didn't manage to finish them in time... and apparently it didn't matter, as we got tons of compliments at Z's preschool Halloween party and while walking out and about in the neighborhood—a lot of people started signing the song when they saw us! (We didn't actually go up to any houses, since Z is so allergic to nuts, peanuts, eggs, dairy, and everything else found in most Halloween candy, but we had fun ogling all the cool displays.)
<p>In case you're wondering how the heck my four-year-old daughter even decided she wanted to be a Ghostbuster for Halloween, it started when my husband when to a Ghostbusters 30th anniversary art exhibit at Gallery 1988 and came home with this Ghostbusters New York Service Map art print by Anthony Petrie:
<p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i-HJPkq-t8E/VG92rOCeIHI/AAAAAAAACr4/b5cJw6_81ns/s1600/Ghostbusters%2Bprint.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i-HJPkq-t8E/VG92rOCeIHI/AAAAAAAACr4/b5cJw6_81ns/s640/Ghostbusters%2Bprint.jpg" /></a>
<p>She was really intrigued by it, so we let her watch a few episodes of The Real Ghostbusters on YouTube and she became a bit obsessed and decided to be a Ghostbuster for Halloween. (She also loved the movie, but don't think I will let her watch it again—it has some rather risqué scenes and a good bit of swearing).
<p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ApPDy-FMu5c/VG93PEpARMI/AAAAAAAACsA/0t6gOnN-YTw/s1600/ghostbusters.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ApPDy-FMu5c/VG93PEpARMI/AAAAAAAACsA/0t6gOnN-YTw/s640/ghostbusters.jpg" /></a>
<p>My sewing machine is in the repair shop now, but when she comes back I have some doll sewing plans (Z wants a curly-haired brown-skinned mermaid fairy superhero doll for Christmas, and no such thing actually exists in any store), and I have an almost-complete baby sweater to show as well!
<p>OK, back to bed for me!
<p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">**Disclosure: Actions you take from hyperlinks within this blog post may yield commissions for polkadotoverload.com (quite likely to be spent on yarn or fabric).</span><img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/YAVFmM2X4_4" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com23http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/11/ghostbusters-family-halloween.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-88258363673804372202014-10-16T00:20:00.000-04:002014-10-16T00:22:24.663-04:00Finished: Blue Green Bowerbird Wrap + Graphic Knits Pattern Picks (25 weeks pregnant)<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15359299178" title="Mikhaela&#x27;s Blue Green Bowerbird Wrap by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3949/15359299178_f355c46694_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Mikhaela&#x27;s Blue Green Bowerbird Wrap"></a>
<p>Stripes are a close second to polka dots in my pattern happiness book. So when I was invited to join the blog tour/knitalong for <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Graphic-Knits-Designs-Beautiful-Color/dp/1620331268/">Graphic Knits: 20 Designs in Bold Beautiful Color</a></i>—the new book from Interweave by my favorite knitting designer ever, Alexis Winslow—I immediately gravitated towards the Bowerbird Wrap, a soft, squishy loosely-knitted ribbed, cabled, striped and tassled wrap made from luscious silky merino yarn:
<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Graphic-Knits-Designs-Beautiful-Color/dp/1620331268/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3g9SHVjycws/VD871mwgxHI/AAAAAAAACpQ/jTef2Yv4Q3o/s640/Graphic%2BKnits%2B-%2BBowerbird%2BWrap%2Bbeauty%2Bshot.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>It was the perfect knit for this tired pregnant lady—the cables and stripes and super soft squishyness of the yarn kept me going, but it was simple enough to take on the subway or bus, or work on during my Hypnobabies birthing class or while watching my daughter as she splashed around in the bathtub or built time machines in the living room from chairs and sheets. The staggered cable pattern was fun, but easy to memorize.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15542760751" title="Mikhaela&#x27;s Blue Green Bowerbird Wrap by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5602/15542760751_84ffccd40c_b.jpg" width="679" height="1024" alt="Mikhaela&#x27;s Blue Green Bowerbird Wrap"></a>
<h3>The basics:</h3>
<blockquote>
<p><b>Pattern:</b> The Bowerbird Wrap by Alexis Winslow from <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Graphic-Knits-Designs-Beautiful-Color/dp/1620331268/">Graphic Knits</a></i> (Interweave).
<p><b>Yarn:</b> 3 colors of Malabrigo Silky Merino, a lovely soft hand-painted DK weight silk/wool-blend yarn. I used slightly over 1 skein of "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Malabrigo-Silky-Merino-Yarn-Feather/dp/B004P37G7S/">412 Teal feather</a>" for Color A, 1 1/2 skeins of "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Malabrigo-Silky-Merino-Yarn-Discontinued/dp/B004T6B1Z4/">406 Narciso</a>" (a chartreuse) for Color B, and slightly over a skein of "<a href="http://www.yarn.com/product/webs-knitting-crochet-yarn-malabrigo-silky-merino/">196 Mares</a>" (a gorgeous painted deep blue purple) for Color C... about 585 yards in total.
<p><b>Needles:</b> The pattern recommends size 11 to start (to create a loose squishy double-sided ribbed fabric with the DK weight yarn), but I'm a loose knitter, and got gauge with size 9 needles.
<p><b>Raveled:</b> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/m1khaela/bowerbird-wrap">Here.</a></blockquote>
<p>I would definitely recommend this project for a knitter of any level, even an advanced beginner. The only even <i>slightly</i> tricky bits are the cables at the edges, the color changes (I used <a href="http://techknitting.blogspot.com/2007/07/back-to-back-join.html">a back join</a>), and the twisted fringe finish. There's no fitting, no short rows, no stranded colorwork. And the ribbing makes it reversible—essential for a scarf or wrap.
<p>It makes for a versatile garment. Wrap it...
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15359298678" title="Mikhaela&#x27;s Blue Green Bowerbird Wrap by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3954/15359298678_ae03b27649_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Mikhaela&#x27;s Blue Green Bowerbird Wrap"></a>
<p>Drape it...
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15359299738" title="Mikhaela&#x27;s Blue Green Bowerbird Wrap by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5610/15359299738_050eed7479_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Mikhaela&#x27;s Blue Green Bowerbird Wrap"></a>
<p>Or wear it as a snuggly scarf.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15521735086" title="Mikhaela&#x27;s Blue Green Bowerbird Wrap by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5613/15521735086_40f71bc620_b.jpg" width="798" height="1024" alt="Mikhaela&#x27;s Blue Green Bowerbird Wrap"></a>
<p>Seriously, this thing is really snuggly. I'm glad I sprung for the actual silk-blend yarn called for in the pattern instead of using plain wool or alpaca.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14924690064" title="Mikhaela&#x27;s Blue Green Bowerbird Wrap by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5600/14924690064_d4fe61f344_b.jpg" width="700" height="1024" alt="Mikhaela&#x27;s Blue Green Bowerbird Wrap"></a>
<p>Anyway. You know I mean it when I say that Brooklyn-based <a href="http://www.knitdarling.com/">Alexis Winslow</a> is my favorite knitting designer, as I've now made three of her garments, including <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2013/04/sweater-girl-success-finished.html">my beloved chartreuse lace Georgina Cardigan</a> (which actually works great for maternity, since it doesn't touch the belly) and <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/done-purple-stripes-overload-cardigan.html">my purple Delancey striped cardigan</a>. Her designs are bold, figure-flattering, colorful, creative AND super fun to knit.
<p>So please do show her some love and check out her first book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Graphic-Knits-Designs-Beautiful-Color/dp/1620331268/">Graphic Knits</a></i>. When I am not hugely pregnant, I am most excited to make (suprise), the polka dot <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sweetness-pullover">Sweetness Pullover</a> (<a href="http://www.knitdarling.com/blog/series/sweetness-kal">see knitalong here</a>):
<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kEsV_gU0du8/VD9DEEjREGI/AAAAAAAACpg/O07fwe62vs4/s1600/Graphic%2BKnits%2B-%2BSweetness%2BPullover%2Bbeauty%2Bshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kEsV_gU0du8/VD9DEEjREGI/AAAAAAAACpg/O07fwe62vs4/s640/Graphic%2BKnits%2B-%2BSweetness%2BPullover%2Bbeauty%2Bshot.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>My other favorites are the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/orly-cardigan">wrap-style Orly Cardigan</a> (love those staggered stripes!):
<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oIiiaf91RuA/VD9EfBSSxgI/AAAAAAAACps/_l3yLkm5If0/s1600/Graphic%2BKnits%2B-%2BOrly%2BCardigan%2Bbeauty%2Bshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oIiiaf91RuA/VD9EfBSSxgI/AAAAAAAACps/_l3yLkm5If0/s640/Graphic%2BKnits%2B-%2BOrly%2BCardigan%2Bbeauty%2Bshot.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>The <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rook-pullover">Rook Pullover</a>...
<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4sTdK6jg2fU/VD9EyZypMJI/AAAAAAAACp0/hO5KM53vaaU/s1600/Graphic%2BKnits%2B-%2BRook%2BPullover%2Bbeauty%2Bshot%2B(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4sTdK6jg2fU/VD9EyZypMJI/AAAAAAAACp0/hO5KM53vaaU/s640/Graphic%2BKnits%2B-%2BRook%2BPullover%2Bbeauty%2Bshot%2B(1).jpg" /></a></div>
<p>And the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/danae-mittens">Danae Mittens</a>:
<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ztrJi9RkhE/VD9E8XQbX8I/AAAAAAAACp8/2_XhD5DxlbM/s1600/Graphic%2BKnits%2B-%2BDanae%2BMittens%2Bbeauty%2Bshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ztrJi9RkhE/VD9E8XQbX8I/AAAAAAAACp8/2_XhD5DxlbM/s640/Graphic%2BKnits%2B-%2BDanae%2BMittens%2Bbeauty%2Bshot.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>So yes—please check out the patterns from <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Graphic-Knits-Designs-Beautiful-Color/dp/1620331268/">Graphic Knits</a></i> (you <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/graphic-knits/patterns">can see details for all of them on Ravelry</a>), they are truly awesome. (And if you, unlike me, have an area of your middle resembling a waist, I highly recommend knitting along with the Sweetness Pullover!)
<p>Disclaimer P.S.: I did receive a free review copy of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Graphic-Knits-Designs-Beautiful-Color/dp/1620331268/">Graphic Knits</a></i>, but was not in any other way compensated or paid to knit the Bowerbird or write this post—I bought the yarn myself and wrote this post because I'm a huge fan of Alexis' work and hope her first book is a big hit so she can keep designing awesome knitting patterns!
<p>P.P.S. So I will now admit that when I took all these photos in the early wee hours I hadn't finished applying the twisted cord fringe to BOTH ends of my wrap (I'll have to do tomorrow), but I think I managed to cleverly conceal that in my photos. Except now you know. Oops!
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15545436055" title="Mikhaela&#x27;s Blue Green Bowerbird Wrap by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3950/15545436055_af43b865c0_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Mikhaela&#x27;s Blue Green Bowerbird Wrap"></a>
<img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/O-z4TGaAlUA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com5http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/10/finished-blue-green-bowerbird-wrap.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-76994687148878272952014-10-15T08:47:00.002-04:002014-10-15T15:33:11.035-04:00Graphic Knits Blog Tour / Knitalong Post (w/ finished Bowerbird Wrap) Coming this Evening!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bit.ly/1r9yzUJ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dRmUleEkeVc/VD5oP3swiJI/AAAAAAAACoo/pGHbnPQNUv8/s640/Graphic%2BKnits%2B-%2Bjacket%2Bart.jpg" /></a></div>
<p>Hi everyone! Just a quick note that I'm super excited to be part of the blog tour and knitalong for <i><a href="http://bit.ly/1r9yzUJ">Graphic Knits</a></i>, a gorgeous, colorful and inspiring new book from Interweave by my all-time-favorite knitting designer, <a href="http://www.knitdarling.com/blog">Alexis Winslow</a>.
<p>I had a lovely time knitting my book project (the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bowerbird-wrap">Bowerbird Wrap</a>), but due to some personal challenges barely managed to get it finished by last night. I blocked and photographed it this morning with a little help from a hair dryer, but still need to edit my photos and blog it properly later this evening. In the meantime, please check out the entire <i>Graphic Knits</i> blog tour:
<ol>
<li>Knit Darling - S<a href="www.knitdarling.com/blog/sweetness-pullover-kal-announcement">weetness Pullover KAL</a> - 9/19 (P.S. it has polka dots!)
<li>Heather Zoppetti Designs – <a href="http://digitalnabi.com/blog/2014/10/graphic-knits-kal-giveaway/">Woodstar Mitts</a> – 10/3
<li>Dayana Knits – <a href="http://www.dayanaknits.com/2014/10/All-In-The-Details-Laszlo-Cardigan-From-Graphic-Knits.html">Laszlo Cardigan</a> – 10/7
<li>Stockinette Zombies – <a href="http://www.stockinettezombies.com/2014/10/episode-148-yay-vacay.html#more">Germander Shrug and Sweetness Pullover</a> – 10/9
<li>Knitscene/Knitting Daily blog – <a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/knitscene/archive/2014/10/09/i-39-m-a-barbet-girl-knitting-along-with-graphic-knits.aspx">Barbet Turtleneck</a> – 10/9
<li>Polka Dot Overload - Bowerbird Wrap – 10/15
</ol>
<img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/x80H4JAQR2g" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com0http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/10/graphic-knits-blog-tour-knitalong-post.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-1296399590013059542014-10-01T11:05:00.000-04:002014-10-01T11:05:17.144-04:00Sewcation fail: defeated by a baby beanie and a broken sewing machine<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15221279420" title="I was almost defeated today by a baby beanie with a single pattern piece. But after hours of unpicking and making scale model mini beanies and finally reading other people&#x27;s blog posts, I realized it wasn&#x27;t my fault. I&#x27;m sure the baby in this Ottobre maga by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3930/15221279420_6911890f9e_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="I was almost defeated today by a baby beanie with a single pattern piece. But after hours of unpicking and making scale model mini beanies and finally reading other people&#x27;s blog posts, I realized it wasn&#x27;t my fault. I&#x27;m sure the baby in this Ottobre maga"></a>
<p><center><i>Generally speaking, a hat pattern should allow for the insertion of a head, right? Not so this Ottobre reversible baby beanie (at least not as written).</i></center>
<p>I started off my <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/09/taking-mini-sew-cation.html">two-day sewcation</a> yesterday morning in high spirits, dressed in me-made maternity clothes with a mocktail in hand:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15215237638" title="All set for my 2-day #sewcation w/ mocktail in hand &amp; a #memade #maternity outfit (Burdastyle top I maternitized in 2010 + self-drafted half circle skirt). #sewing by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3837/15215237638_18b95e0505_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="All set for my 2-day #sewcation w/ mocktail in hand &amp; a #memade #maternity outfit (Burdastyle top I maternitized in 2010 + self-drafted half circle skirt). #sewing"></a>
<p>I began with what I imagined would be the easiest project possible, to ease myself back into things: a gender-neutral baby jacket and hat gift set made from a repurposed cashmere sweater. I planned to appliqué a little blue felt bicycle on the jacket and line the baby hat with soft blue bamboo knit.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15379023506" title="First #sewcation project: appliquéd cashmere baby jackets from repurposed adult-size sweaters. #sewingforbabies #sewing by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3856/15379023506_b54fcbd363_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="First #sewcation project: appliquéd cashmere baby jackets from repurposed adult-size sweaters. #sewingforbabies #sewing"></a>
<p>I cut out both but I figured I'd start actual sewing with the baby hat, the cute little bear-eared knit "Ernie" beanie with just ONE pattern piece from the 1/2013 issue of Ottobre. WHAT COULD BE EASIER, RIGHT? I mean, I've made lined dresses and overalls and trousers and things with buttons and collars and plackets... A KNIT BABY HAT SHOULD TAKE FIVE MINUTES RIGHT?
<p>Sorry if I am shouting. But I really can't help it.
<p>Because TWELVE HOURS LATER I found myself unpicking THOUSANDS of tiny white zig-zag stitches out of fuzzy white cashmere sweater knit BECAUSE if you follow the Ottobre instructions in the order as written THERE IS NO OPENING FOR AN ACTUAL BABY HEAD.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15406061292" title="Oops. My #sewcation is half over and so far my biggest accomplishment is sewing an Ottobre cashmere baby beanie together backwards. Now to unpick tiny white zigzag stitches from fuzzy white sweater knit. #sewingforbabies #sewing by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3930/15406061292_ebb758f113_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Oops. My #sewcation is half over and so far my biggest accomplishment is sewing an Ottobre cashmere baby beanie together backwards. Now to unpick tiny white zigzag stitches from fuzzy white sweater knit. #sewingforbabies #sewing"></a>
<p>I thought maybe I had just done something wrong, but I made some tiny little hat mockups (see photo at top of post) just to confirm I wasn't totally out of it... and then I searched online and found every single person who had attempted the hat had the same problem and had had to drastically alter the pattern to actually work. (Really, who'd think you'd need to read pattern reviews for a BABY BEANIE?).
So I cut some head openings and resewed it together my way, and now all I have to show for my sewcation is one cute (if way too labor-intensive) little cashmere hat. I could have KNITTED it faster from scratch.
<p>And that's probably all I'll have to show for my sewcation, since this morning the screw threads wore out in my needle clamp and now every needle I attempt to insert just falls right out with a maddening "Ping!" sound. The shop says it will take at least 10 days to repair as they are backed up.
<p>In the meantime a friend is going to loan me her Featherweight, but renting a Zipcar and traveling way out to Queens with a broken sewing machine wasn't exactly the sewcation I had in mind. I might defer that for another day and spend today cutting out a few projects and knitting.
<p>I think I need another mocktail. <img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/q53CVf0Axi0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com10http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/10/sewcation-fail-defeated-by-baby-beanie.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-57919479783562716302014-09-30T01:20:00.002-04:002014-09-30T01:20:51.924-04:00Taking a Mini Sew-Cation!<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15375366706" title="Getting excited for my two-day sewcation next week! #sewing #maternitysewing #sewingforkids by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3860/15375366706_28f012e6db_o.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Getting excited for my two-day sewcation next week! #sewing #maternitysewing #sewingforkids"></a>
<p>Between one thing and another — work, pregnancy nausea followed by pregnancy exhaustion, chasing my four-year-old around Brooklyn, taking an intense hypnobirthing class,* <a href="http://safeandscrumptious.com/">cooking overly elaborate allergy-free meals from scratch</a>, life, the universe, you know — there hasn't been a whole lot of actual sewing going on around here. Knitting, yes (because that's what subway commutes are for). And even <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/search/label/darning">darning</a>:
<p><center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15372102771" title="Yes, I am that boring person who sits around on a Saturday night darning her wool socks, sweaters and tights. #makedoandmend (p.s. pictured are wooden darning egg and vintage and new mending wool). #darning #knitting by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3926/15372102771_b6c6462f32_o.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Yes, I am that boring person who sits around on a Saturday night darning her wool socks, sweaters and tights. #makedoandmend (p.s. pictured are wooden darning egg and vintage and new mending wool). #darning #knitting"></a></center>
<p>But not sewing.
<p>And these summer and fall weekends have been too beautiful to justify making the kiddo stay inside and play Legos while I sew. I got myself a beautiful used <a href="http://www.gazellebikes.com/collection-bikes/classic">Gazelle Dutch bike</a> — that very serious type of 50-lb Dutch granny bike with the high handlebars, skirt guards, fenders, baskets, and so forth... and we got Ms. Z <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Weehoo-iGo-Pro-Bicycle-Trailer/dp/B007T95EQ0">a Weehoo iGo Pro trailer bike</a> to attach to my husband's bike now that she's outgrown her bike seat, and we've been taking family rides around the city:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15227812755" title="Took our first family bike ride in a year (since Z outgrew her old bike seat) - I got a used Dutch Gazelle bike and we got Z a Weehoo trailer bike to attach to @whatmashekadid &#x27;s bike. by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3896/15227812755_173107a6dc_o.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Took our first family bike ride in a year (since Z outgrew her old bike seat) - I got a used Dutch Gazelle bike and we got Z a Weehoo trailer bike to attach to @whatmashekadid &#x27;s bike."></a>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15395321681" title="Z in her new Weehoo iGo Pro trailer bike by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3888/15395321681_5fab4ede1a_o.jpg" width="960" height="960" alt="Z in her new Weehoo iGo Pro trailer bike"></a>
<p>But you know I'm a sewing gal, and you know my sewing machine and I have been missing each other, and that is why I am taking the next two days off of work to sew while Z is at school.
<p><b>Things I will be doing on my sewcation:</b>
<ul>
<li>Tracing patterns.
<li>Cutting fabric.
<li>Sewing.
<li>Eating tacos I did not make myself from scratch.
<li>Drinking mocktails.
<li>Taking excessive numbers of <a href="http://instagram.com/m1khaela">Instagram</a> photos.
</ul>
<p><b>Things I will resist doing on my sewcation:</b>
<ul>
<li>Reading blogs. (I know I need to catch up on all the amazing things you all are doing, but if I start diving into blog-land, no actual sewing will occur.)
<li>Watching moving pictures on screens (unless done while paying half-attention at the sewing machine).
<li>Cleaning, cooking, tidying, scrubbing, folding.
</ul>
<p><b>Things I hope to sew (or at least cut out or plan or SOMETHING—I doubt I'll get to all this in just two days):</b>
<ul>
<li>1 maternity dress (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Simplicity-Creative-Patterns-1360-16-18-20-22-24/dp/B00K9BDO1M">Simplicity 1360</a>, pictured at top of post)
<li>1 pair maternity-ized Cake Espresso purple jeggings
<li>5-6 pairs maternity panties from my TNT pattern (<a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2012/04/me-made-may-be-2012-what-i-might-wear.html">see middle of this blog post</a>).
<li>A baby gift for a friend
<li>A going-home outfit for my own baby — a matching knit kimono-style baby shirt and pants.
<li>1 nursing dress (<a href="http://www.simplicity.com/p-11686-maternity-and-nursing-knit-top-or-dress.aspx">Simplicity 1469</a>, pictured at top of post)
<li>1 nursing top (<a href="http://www.simplicity.com/p-11686-maternity-and-nursing-knit-top-or-dress.aspx">Simplicity 1469</a>, pictured at top of post)
</ul>
<p>So that's the plan. Ms. Z is only in school from 8:40 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, so we'll see how much I actually get done — but maybe it'll kickstart me back into finding a few sewing moments here and there going forward.
<p>Wish me luck! It is also entirely possible I will end up napping the entire time and sewing a lone baby kimono shirt, but let's hope not.
<p>*In case you're wondering why I am taking childbirth classes as a second-time mom, well, let's just say I had a rather long and challenging (as in 87 hours challenging) birthing time with my first child for which my basic childbirth education class left me completely unprepared. This time I am taking <a href="https://www.hypnobabies.com/">Hypnobabies</a> and hiring a doula and I am quite positively set on hypnotizing myself into a much more comfortable — and less prolonged — birthing experience.
<p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">**Disclosure: Actions you take from hyperlinks within this blog post may yield commissions for polkadotoverload.com (quite likely to be spent on yarn or fabric).</span>
<img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/oZ6bTU1GKtg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com17http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/09/taking-mini-sew-cation.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-62453104575477778822014-09-03T22:54:00.001-04:002014-09-03T22:54:37.661-04:00Hetty Cardigan Try-On For Your Amusement (Sweater Girl Showdown Progress)<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14930647098" title="Hetty cardigan progress by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3872/14930647098_6c89af3b9f_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Hetty cardigan progress"></a>
<p>Yes, so I think it is pretty obvious that I started knitting this Hetty cardigan (winner of my most recent <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/04/sweater-girl-showdown-2014-which-two.html">Sweater Girl Showdown</a> bout of cardigan indecision and <a href="http://ravel.me/m1khaela/h1">Raveled here</a>) a few weeks before I got my positive pregnancy test. At that time, I actually had a waist...
<p><center> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mVbJAi3XF7E/U11bWTKOCVI/AAAAAAAACa8/5tyjjUJX_MU/s1600/Sweater-Girl-Showdown-2014_Hetty-options.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mVbJAi3XF7E/U11bWTKOCVI/AAAAAAAACa8/5tyjjUJX_MU/s640/Sweater-Girl-Showdown-2014_Hetty-options.jpg" /></a></div></center>
<p>Now at 19 weeks, I'm not so much with the waist (in the front anyway):
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14930651117" title="Hetty cardigan progress by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3839/14930651117_e145491c26_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Hetty cardigan progress"></a>
<p>I also have given up on my old "don't wear leggings as pants" rule, because, well, I have one single pair of maternity jeans and these <a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=maternity+leggings&_dcat=46809&rt=nc&LH_ItemCondition=4">eBay-acquired used maternity leggings</a> are really, really comfy. (I'm finding eBay has been my best source for used maternity clothes to supplement the items I sewed last time, as many items go for cheap or in lots, and it can be hard to find the few decent maternity items at local thrift stores).
<p>I realize the sweater looks ridiculously small in front, but I am still fairly confident it will fit post-pregnancy and post-blocking. My gauge swatches grew significantly when I blocked them, AND this is a lacy cardigan AND it is 100% merino wool AND I will be adding some button bands. (My normal bust size may even return at some point, though probably not for at least the first year of nursing if my previous experience is any guide).
<p>AND the back fits just about right, even now:
<p><center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15094229266" title="Hetty cardigan progress by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3835/15094229266_bc87745ab1_c.jpg" width="587" height="800" alt="Hetty cardigan progress"></a></center>
<p>Plus the color is just lovely!
<p>All that said, it is a bit hard to keep momentum on knitting a thing I will not really be able to wear properly for at least 5 months. I find myself itching to knit a big scarf or wrap and some mittens, plus lots of baby things. We'll see when these sleeves will actually happen!
<p>What do you think so far? <img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/v7w311dqztU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com7http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/09/hetty-cardigan-try-on-for-your.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-81691886987725191252014-09-01T22:52:00.000-04:002014-09-02T10:53:55.558-04:00Finished: Handpainted Hugs and Kisses Baby Socks (Better Than Booties Baby Socks) <P><center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/15088099836" title="Hugs and kisses handpainted baby socks by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3872/15088099836_182805b453_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Hugs and kisses handpainted baby socks"></a></center>
<p>19 weeks in, and I've finally finished my first project for little "Text Message" Wood (as my four-year-old daughter Z wants to call the baby) or "Torch Wood" (as my nerdy husband and I have been referring to him/her). The first sock took maybe a day or two, and then I got a case of the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome and it took me a month to finish the second.
<p>It's partly because I got some really good "help" from Ms. Z winding the yarn, so somehow the inside of the second ball was completely tangled and needing days and days of untwisting and unpicking... (oh how I love my <a href="www.amazon.com/Royal-077-500-080-Ball-Winder/dp/B0039GJEAY">ball winder</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stanwood-Needlecraft-Wooden-Umbrella-Winder/dp/B000IG1I8O/">swift</a>, but they DO need to be operated in one direction at a time).
<p><center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14340977040" title="Helping me wind my sock yarn... #knitting by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3914/14340977040_875b1327e2_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Helping me wind my sock yarn... #knitting"></a></center>
<p>This is my third time making the <a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/media/p/14020.aspx">free "Better Than Booties Baby Socks" pattern</a> (this project and all details <a href="http://ravel.me/m1khaela/btbbs3">Raveled here</a>) but somehow these came out gigantic, more of a two-year-old size.
<p>I think my favorite part is that I FINALLY used up a small bit of some of the sock blanks I hand-painted with some talented knitting friends back in 2008:
<p><center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/2729863745" title="Mikhaela makes a weird green, blue and ochre sock blank by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3092/2729863745_1f47f6eedc_z.jpg?zz=1" width="640" height="480" alt="Mikhaela makes a weird green, blue and ochre sock blank"></a></center>
<p>Yes, that's all I have finished for the baby so far. What can I say? The second-trimester surge of energy I experienced last time around doesn't seem to be materializing, and I think it's due to all the chasing around after this one...
<p><center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14500951090" title="It was hard to persuade her to leave the beach and ride the Wonder Wheel... by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3907/14500951090_ce93cbfe3b_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="It was hard to persuade her to leave the beach and ride the Wonder Wheel..."></a></center>
<p>Next up: I'm finishing a cardigan for myself (almost done with the Hetty by Andi Satterlund) and for baby, and a scarf for myself and a hat for baby. How are your fall knitting plans shaping up? <img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/ZjPLRgdVkLM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com3http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/09/finished-handpainted-hugs-and-kisses.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-92134449269665840102014-08-09T21:08:00.001-04:002014-08-09T21:08:07.964-04:00Something else made during Me Made May... (plus: an owly baby hoodie and maternity sewing plans)<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zafMDOBuzN8/U-a7AGryD1I/AAAAAAAACko/QS4_-gM8PAE/s1600/DSCN2230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zafMDOBuzN8/U-a7AGryD1I/AAAAAAAACko/QS4_-gM8PAE/s640/DSCN2230.JPG" /></a>
<p>Halfway through Me Made May a few months ago, my husband and I got some exciting news—I was four weeks pregnant! We did not yet want to publicly announce, but I almost instantly developed an obvious baby belly and a quite expanded bustline and began to have trouble fitting into some of my favorite clothes, me-made and otherwise. (I think it's a second-time mom thing, as I didn't show at all with my daughter until I was at least 11 weeks along).
<p>I didn't want to give up on Me Made May, so I just tried to suck in the belly in photos and even wear body shapers to try to hide it on the blog and at work for the rest of the month... but by the last few days of May I was actually wearing some of the maternity clothes I made back in 2010, and various kindly people of New York were already starting to offer me seats on the subway. Can you spot it?
<p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nmFRKDM4oHI/U5DRrf8z4bI/AAAAAAAACeo/xWliYxyzYxQ/s1600/Me_Made_May_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nmFRKDM4oHI/U5DRrf8z4bI/AAAAAAAACeo/xWliYxyzYxQ/s640/Me_Made_May_2014.jpg" /></a>
<p>And then at about 6 1/2 weeks along, I suddenly was hit with a wave of nausea and exhaustion like no other, and am only now at 16 weeks starting to emerge into some semblance of normal feeling. All I've sewn in the meantime is a little baby hoodie for a friend's baby shower:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14521849219" title="Baby Hoodie by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3841/14521849219_a5a528ed3e_z.jpg" width="640" height="472" alt="Baby Hoodie"></a>
<p>The nice thing about sewing baby clothes is how very short the seams are—they may have just as many pieces and bits as adult clothes, but before you know it, everything is done. This is from the wonderful <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kwik-Sews-Sewing-Kerstin-Martensson/dp/091321213X">Kwik Sew's Sewing for Baby</a></i> book, and I made the same pattern for my own daughter Z when I was pregnant with her (did she not have the BEST little fro-hawk?!):
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/4996267942" title="Blue Doodle Baby Hoodie (worn by Baby Z, 12 wks) by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4146/4996267942_c9c56dfb4d_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Blue Doodle Baby Hoodie (worn by Baby Z, 12 wks)"></a>
<p>I'm now planning to embark on a modest maternity sewing and baby sewing/knitting spree—a friend of mine from the Brooklyn Sewing Club scored me a set of Simplicity maternity patterns on a $1 each sale (some of which are actually Megan Nielsen patterns!), and I'm super excited to make them up. Here are my top three:
<p>Simplicity 1469 (which is also Megan Nielsen's nursing/maternity top/dress pattern):
<p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ek6x2Q3qFA/U-bDWYCNgMI/AAAAAAAACk4/-9guK8ICyUE/s1600/simplicity1469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ek6x2Q3qFA/U-bDWYCNgMI/AAAAAAAACk4/-9guK8ICyUE/s640/simplicity1469.jpg" /></a>
<p>Simplicity 1468 maternity wrap top (another Megan Nielsen):
<p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WRV1K13EKC4/U-bEL7wP-eI/AAAAAAAAClA/ap1088YFq1w/s1600/Simplicity+1468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WRV1K13EKC4/U-bEL7wP-eI/AAAAAAAAClA/ap1088YFq1w/s640/Simplicity+1468.jpg" /></a>
<p>Simplicity 1360 maternity dress or mini dress:
<p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6hcRh7jGj_0/U-bEfNMliOI/AAAAAAAAClI/041qi4LDoxI/s1600/Simplicity+1360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6hcRh7jGj_0/U-bEfNMliOI/AAAAAAAAClI/041qi4LDoxI/s640/Simplicity+1360.jpg" /></a>
<p>I'm probably not going to overdo the maternity sewing, as I have quite a few maternity me-mades left over from last time and have been able to score a lot of great items free or thrifted (like the top in the photo). But I think at least a few warm maternity tops, a pair of wool jersey leggings, a long-sleeved dress and a wool jersey skirt for winter are in order, since I'm due in January. I might focus more on adding to my nursing-friendly-top-and-dress stash, as that will be something I can wear for at least two years, not just the next five months.
<p>P.S. Our daughter wants to name the baby "Text Message Wood", "Tree Wood" "Apple Wood" or "Brothy Sisty Wood" (Wood is husband's last name). We will not be taking her up on her suggestions.<img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/Y8iCcjB2V4A" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com32http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/08/something-else-made-during-me-made-may.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-51811202716597619622014-06-28T09:38:00.000-04:002014-06-28T09:38:02.793-04:00Chevron squiggle overload: the updated Cake Patterns free Tee pattern<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14254731684" title="Cake Patterns &quot;The Tee&quot; V neck with micro pocket by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2899/14254731684_535b20cd31_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Cake Patterns &quot;The Tee&quot; V neck with micro pocket"></a>
<p>I actually made this Tee a month ago while I was working on the updated envelope art, but couldn't share officially until the pattern was out in the wild (available now <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/clothing/the-tee/10435">as a free PDF via Craftsy</a>, or <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/193665978/the-tee-cake-patterns-riff-n2224?ref=shop_home_active_1">a printed (and of course not-free) paper pattern</a> via Etsy.
<p>As you all know, I illustrate for Cake Patterns and thus have access to the patterns for free, so this isn't an objective review or anything, but I don't get paid to sew Cake and I made this for fun and my opinion is my own, and etc. So when I tell you I love this Tee pattern—I mean it!
<blockquote><h3>The basics</h3>
<p><b>Pattern:</b> <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/clothing/the-tee/10435">The Tee</a>, Cake Patterns Riff No. 2224. A knit custom-fit and custom-length T-shirt with cut-on sleeves, hem band, V-neck or round neck options and micro pocket options. I made the single-pocket V-neck version in a 26" length (I wanted an almost tunic-length top):
<p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nT7H9jjHspU/U61-6UDEuWI/AAAAAAAACg0/Otud9rqXGGY/s1600/thetee.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nT7H9jjHspU/U61-6UDEuWI/AAAAAAAACg0/Otud9rqXGGY/s1600/thetee.jpg" /></a>
<p><b>Fabric:</b> 1 yard of a really uncooperative (if totally fun) thin chevron printed rayon-spandex knit from Tex Styles in Austin, Texas. The pattern wasn't even SLIGHTLY close to on-grain at all, so I cut it to make the lines look as straight as possible. And I used a bit of chevron for the pocket to look like an "M" for "Mikhaela."
<p><b>Size:</b> I made the size 35, with 38" bust and 39" hips and a 26" length. I normally would do a snug waist with negative ease, but since this fabric was so tissue thin I only brought the waist in to 33" at the fit check step.</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14231953606" title="Cake Patterns &quot;The Tee&quot; V neck with micro pocket by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3715/14231953606_44dfde69cb_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Cake Patterns &quot;The Tee&quot; V neck with micro pocket"></a>
<p><b>Modifications:</b> No modifications, except those directed in the pattern (bringing in the waist slightly for a closer fit during the fit check stage).
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14254729504" title="Cake Patterns &quot;The Tee&quot; V neck with micro pocket by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2934/14254729504_d06ec2734a_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Cake Patterns &quot;The Tee&quot; V neck with micro pocket"></a>
<p><b>Construction notes</b>: This is a very quick and satisfying make—no sleeve setting required. Cutting out the recalcitrant fabric was probably the hardest part.
<p>The round neckline version would have been quicker, but I love a V-neck and have never made one before, so decided to try it out and am happy I did. I just followed the written instructions, but Steph recently posted <a href="http://sewingcake.com/lapped-v-binding/">a step-by-step photo tutorial for mitered V-necks</a> that breaks it down more clearly for beginners.
<p>The pattern also comes with a little pressing template that makes getting perfectly shaped little pockets much easier.
<p><b>Wear:</b> I've been wearing this versatile basic constantly—with jeans, skirts, whatever. Next time I might make it a little longer to be more tunic-length for over leggings. I probably SHOULD make a solid-colored one as I need some plainer Ts, but I'm sure I'll go for a pattern again.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14068527177" title="Cake Patterns &quot;The Tee&quot; V neck with micro pocket by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3829/14068527177_3509bb846d_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Cake Patterns &quot;The Tee&quot; V neck with micro pocket"></a>
<p>So what are you waiting for? <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/clothing/the-tee/10435">Get yourself a free Tee pattern!</a>
<img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/cvp3B-TKKTI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com9http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/06/chevron-squiggle-overload-updated-cake.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-3808638352812920052014-06-06T07:00:00.000-04:002014-06-06T07:00:12.209-04:00Do you have too many (or too few) clothes? + Me Made May VICTORY and wrapup<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nmFRKDM4oHI/U5DRrf8z4bI/AAAAAAAACeo/xWliYxyzYxQ/s1600/Me_Made_May_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nmFRKDM4oHI/U5DRrf8z4bI/AAAAAAAACeo/xWliYxyzYxQ/s640/Me_Made_May_2014.jpg" /></a>
<p>So somehow I did it—wore at least one me-made every day of May 2014, and got some kind of documentary photo to prove it, even if was just a low-quality bathroom mirror <a href="http://instagram.com/m1khaela">Instagram</a> selfie.
<p>Not only that, but it was really a "Me-Making May" (to use <a href="http://moonthirty.com/">Susan's</a> term). I completed EIGHT garments for myself during the month, and FOUR for children (which is a definite record for me—I didn't even have time to blog them all!): two dresses, five tops, three skirts, a sweater and a jacket. Um, that's my average sewing output for an entire year.
<p>So I'm a little TIRED and taking a little break from sewing for a week or so to recover, but I'm making great knitting progress on my Hetty cardigan. It looks tiny BUT it's lace and all scrunched up, AND my gauge swatch grew quite a bit when I blocked it, so I'm not going to worry (yet):
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14353096992" title="Super sick today and had to stay in bed and sleep all day. Finally feeling better and taking out my Hetty by @andisatt for a little therapeutic #knitting . It&#x27;s coming along so quickly! by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3846/14353096992_66fb7f1da7_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Super sick today and had to stay in bed and sleep all day. Finally feeling better and taking out my Hetty by @andisatt for a little therapeutic #knitting . It&#x27;s coming along so quickly!"></a>
<p>Anyway, I was trying to think what I learned from Me Made May this year, and here are my random thoughts:
<ul>
<li><b>I have too many clothes.</b> That is, too many clothes I never wear, and don't necessarily like. When putting together outfits for Me-Made-May I found myself wearing (or trying to wear) some me-mades and old ready-to-wear or thrifted pieces that I hadn't worn since LAST Me Made May... and that I think I just need to ditch. I brought quite a few bags to the clothes recycling at the farmer's market this month, though I hate to just get rid of me mades that way (maybe I'll give them away here?)
<li><b>I have too few clothes.</b> That is, too few clothes in certain basic categories that I rely on a lot: basic denim and solid-colored skirts, solid-color tops, jeans, knit camisoles. This is partly because I stopped buying most fast fashion two years ago after reading <i><a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2012/08/can-home-sewing-save-us-from-evils-of.html">Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion</a></i>... and I haven't really been focused enough in my sewing or thrift shopping to fill those basic areas.
<li><b>I dress very differently when I'm going to be showing photos of myself on the internet.</b> I wear heels and makeup slightly more often, and more dresses and skirts than usual. I swear I wore jeans for more than 50% of days in April, but since I don't have any me-made trousers I actually like, I only wore jeans or trousers four times the entire month of May.
<li><b>I have/make too many polka-dot things.</b> I know, this blog is called Polka Dot Overload. But I also love all kinds of other prints—bold florals and geometrics, stripes, chevrons. I need more of a mix here, I'm starting to bore myself.
</ul>
<p>How about you? What do you have too much or too little of?
<p>Anyway, here is the last week of Me-Made-May... on to June!
<h3>Me Made May 25: Polka Dot Twins</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14081141130" title="Me Made May 25: Polka Dot Repeat by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3805/14081141130_5c0d68de08_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Me Made May 25: Polka Dot Repeat"></a>
<p>The little girl and I wore polka dots (yeah, I know) for my grandmother's 92nd birthday party. Mine is the third wear of my <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2012/07/polka-dot-ombre-dress-overload-mccalls.html">McCall's 6070</a> for the month. I think I need to make more of this pattern, as I'm obviously very into it.
<h3>Me Made May 26: Me Made Everything</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14088671548" title="Me Made May 26: Me Made Everything by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3704/14088671548_37605738cb_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Me Made May 26: Me Made Everything"></a>
<p>I'm relaxing on my mom's porch in one of <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2013/05/hummingbird-peplum-top-ii-hummingbird.html">my Cake Hummingbird top</a>s and a <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2013/08/tutorial-super-quick-no-elastic-knit.html">self-drafted knit half circle skirt</a>. Z is wearing her <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/double-wax-print-impulse-sewing-made-by.html">new wax print Made By Rae Baby Sunsuit as top and Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt</a>. Yes I have pale legs.
<h3>Me Made May 27: Stripes and bows</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14283216155" title="Me Made May Day 27 ... almost there! by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2905/14283216155_b9525738f8_b.jpg" width="762" height="1024" alt="Me Made May Day 27 ... almost there!"></a>
<p>My Tilly and the Buttons Miette skirt (<a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/04/finished-vacation-miette-to-get-my-mojo.html" rel="nofollow">blogged here</a>) and Burdastyle Magazine Feb. 2010 top (never blogged). Plus old RTW cardigan for the summer-like heat.
<h3>Me Made May 28: Finally hemmed!</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14104480607" title="Me Made May 28: Finally Hemmed My Dress! by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3668/14104480607_22658d570f_b.jpg" width="946" height="1024" alt="Me Made May 28: Finally Hemmed My Dress!"></a>
<p>Finally got my act together nd started hemming the five unhemmed me-made dresses and skirts that had been piling up (I was wearing them, but unhemmed). The dress is vintage Simplicity 7575 (<a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/finished-1970s-impulse-sewing-knit.html" rel="nofollow">blogged here before hemming</a>) and the jacket is out-of-print McCall's 5529, just finished last week (<a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/ill-fitting-bathrobe-or-stylish-peplum.html" rel="nofollow">blogged here</a>).
<h3>Me Made May 29: Dots and Denim</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14301814771" title="Me Made May 29: Dots and Denim by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2899/14301814771_14171010b9_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Me Made May 29: Dots and Denim"></a>
<p><a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2010/04/finished-my-polka-dot-preggo-jalie-tops.html">Jalie 2005 T-shirt</a> and <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2013/06/done-short-striped-piped-hummingbird.html">Cake Hummingbird denim skirt</a>.
<h3>Me Made May 30: My Stash of Fabrics for Theme Friday</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14301813111" title="Me Made May 30: My Stash of Fabrics by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2933/14301813111_cf4b887f10_b.jpg" width="1024" height="1024" alt="Me Made May 30: My Stash of Fabrics"></a>
<p>My six main drawers of fabric, patterns and yarn are behind me (though I will admit I have fabric squirreled away in a few other places in the apartment). Wearing <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/finished-not-red-or-velvet-red-velvet.html">my (finally hemmed) Cake Patterns Red Velvet knit dress</a>. I think this is my favorite photo for the whole month.
<h3>Me Made May 31: I Need a Nap</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14316804414" title="Me Made May 31: Goodbye Me Made May! by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3793/14316804414_a311ac2bcd_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Me Made May 31: Goodbye Me Made May!"></a>
<p>The me-mades here are the simple knit half-circle skirt and some hidden underthings. PHEW.
<p>So what are your wardrobe challenges?
<img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/8-vwz4fgpKc" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com11http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/06/do-you-have-too-many-or-too-few-clothes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-88723382799863234582014-05-28T22:29:00.000-04:002014-05-28T22:29:11.115-04:00Help Me Conquer My Fear of Hemming? (+ Me Made May Week 4)<p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i2i7V6xhn38/U4UHkeU28SI/AAAAAAAACdk/_qJV_ECT9TM/s1600/unhemmedwall.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i2i7V6xhn38/U4UHkeU28SI/AAAAAAAACdk/_qJV_ECT9TM/s1600/unhemmedwall.jpg" /></a>
<p>Readers, I have finally decided to face down my Chronic Hemming Avoidance. A commenter on PatternReview had the following to say about <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/finished-1970s-impulse-sewing-knit.html">the 1970s dress</a> I entered in the Vintage Contest:
<blockquote>Nice dress. Please do hem it though. Raw hem on a knit is a dead give-away for a cheaply made modern dress. No one in the 1970's (or even the '80's or 90's) would have done that. It's one of my pet peeves about mass market rtw, especially stuff targeted to kids and teens.</blockquote>
<p>And really, she is right. I don't mind a raw hem now and then, but I am starting to be embarrassed that it is my default hem "treatment" for knit fabrics.
<P>My Unfinished Object pile may <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/ill-fitting-bathrobe-or-stylish-peplum.html">finally be gone</a>, but my Unhemmed Dress and Skirt Pile of Doom is really starting to get out of control. As of yesterday, I had five fullish-skirted dresses or skirts that I've just been wearing out and about in the raw — not because I want to, but just because I'm SCARED. I've been telling myself I will hem them SOMEDAY but considering that one of them is three years old I don't think "someday" is just going to happen on its own.
<p>In fact, I have a long history of Chronic Hemming Avoidance—just look at the first two knit fabric projects I posted on PatternReview back in 2005 (before I owned a tripod):
<p><center><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h6LvkPMw6Ts/U4VMJVq1-pI/AAAAAAAACeI/ALvteQbmajw/s1600/hemavoiding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h6LvkPMw6Ts/U4VMJVq1-pI/AAAAAAAACeI/ALvteQbmajw/s1600/hemavoiding.jpg" /></a></center>
<p>So why I am so terrified of hemming full knit skirts that I would rather just walk around in public unhemmed?
<ol>
<li><b>I don't know how to properly level a skirt.</b> The whole idea of a letting a skirt settle and then somehow magically LEVELING an uneven hem freaks me out to no end. Also—my husband does NOT feel comfortable getting down on the floor with a box of pins to try and help.
<li><b>My cheap old "My Double" dress form is crooked,</b> and using it for hem leveling might make my dresses crooked.
<li><b>I am really impatient.</b> Wovens HAVE to be hemmed, but since knits won't TOTALLY unravel and fall apart before I can throw them on and enjoy them, it feels almost optional.
<li><b>Hemming full skirts properly takes me EONS.</b> SO MANY PINS and SO MUCH PRESSING.
<li><b>I am afraid I will hem a skirt WRONG</b> and too SHORT and then it will be TOO LATE and everything will be ruined. RUINED!
<li><b>I am afraid I will use up my last few yards of Steam-a-Seam Lite 2</b> 1/2" fusible web tape and <a href="http://warmcompany.com/sas-update.html">it is currently out of production.</a>
</ol>
<p>So my goal before the close of Me Made May is to finish what I started and get hemming. I got a head start at last month's sewing club when <a href="http://instagram.com/sickofitcindy">Cindy</a> brought her hemming level and pinned two of my dresses, but I need a more sustainable solution so I'm not walking around unhemmed for several weeks at a time.
<p>Last night I tinkered around with my recalcitrant "My Double" dress form and I seem to have fixed her hemming level and weird tilt, but when I tried to use her I didn't feel like I trusted that the 1970s dress was sitting properly level so I got scared and just made an even 1/2" hem all around with fusible webbing tape. Ah well. I did feel a bit more put together.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14104480607" title="Me Made May 28: Finally Hemmed My Dress! by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3668/14104480607_22658d570f_c.jpg" width="739" height="800" alt="Me Made May 28: Finally Hemmed My Dress!"></a>
<p>Do you have any favorite tricks or tutorials for getting a proper level hem in full skirts—especially knit ones? Or are you in the "hemming knits is TOTALLY OPTIONAL" camp?
<p>And... oh yeah, Me Made May! Here's week 4... almost there!
<h3>Me Made May 18: Nettie Goes to Legoland</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14026399348" title="#mmmay14 day 18 Nettie bodysuit by @heatherlou as a top with a thrifted skirt. #nettiebodysuit #sewing #isew by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5193/14026399348_00b4119156_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="#mmmay14 day 18 Nettie bodysuit by @heatherlou as a top with a thrifted skirt. #nettiebodysuit #sewing #isew"></a>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14031197449" title="Me Made May 18: Nettie goes to Legoland by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5535/14031197449_10c0524bec_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Me Made May 18: Nettie goes to Legoland"></a>
<p>Surprised husband and daughter with a trip to Legoland for husband's birthday—we all had a blast, even if the two hours each way on various forms of public transport was a bit challenging (subway ride to train ride to LONG suburban bus ride). Wore <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/polka-dot-nettie-overload-nettie.html">my hot off the sewing machine Closet Case Patterns Nettie Bodysuit as top.</a>
<h3>Me Made May 19: Back of the Me-Made Drawer</h3>
<p><center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14219309601" title="Me Made May 19: Bottom of the drawer (running out of me-mades!) by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5586/14219309601_85d32b9c9c_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Me Made May 19: Bottom of the drawer (running out of me-mades!)"></a></center>
<p>Here are two of the last me-mades that sorta fit that I haven't worn yet for Me Made May--both from pre-blog days. The skirt is Simplicity 5914, and it's nearly 10 years old. It was too big then but is now slightly tight in the waist and a bit uncomfortable to wear. The top is from the Feb. 2010 issue of Burdastyle magazine and has a badly botched neck binding.
<h3>Me Made May 20: Running on Repeat</h3>
<p><Center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14044027917" title="Me Made May 20: Starting to repeat myself... by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2928/14044027917_7f6ee0c126_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Me Made May 20: Starting to repeat myself..."></a></center>
<p><a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2012/07/polka-dot-ombre-dress-overload-mccalls.html">McCall's 6070 ombre dress</a> (still unhemmed) and <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2013/04/sweater-girl-success-finished.html">Georgina cardigan</a> by Alexis Winslow again.
<h3>Me Made May 21: These Me-Mades Are Hidden and My Photos Are Lazy</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14239422615" title="Me Made May 21: Only hidden me-mades here by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2920/14239422615_ebe930e77e_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Me Made May 21: Only hidden me-mades here"></a>
<p>Wearing a not-yet-blogged me-made T-shirt and me-made underthings.
<h3>Me Made May 22: Still Unhemmed</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14242254542" title="Me Made May 22: A little Red Velvet in blue and purple by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5503/14242254542_bbe50e07ef_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="Me Made May 22: A little Red Velvet in blue and purple"></a>
<p>Work bathroom selfie because I had an early morning meeting - <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/finished-not-red-or-velvet-red-velvet.html" rel="nofollow">Cake Patterns Red Velvet dress</a> again. Not yet hemmed.
<h3>Me Made May 23: Polka Dot Parade for Theme Friday</h3>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14064898969" title="Me Made May 23: Polka Dot Parade for Friday Themes by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5591/14064898969_33784e00f4_b.jpg" width="638" height="1024" alt="Me Made May 23: Polka Dot Parade for Friday Themes"></a>
<p>Ms. Z did NOT want me taking any photos this morning—she ordered me to lie on the couch and snuggle instead. So this was the best I could get. Wearing one of my <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2013/05/hello-hummingbird-cake-patterns-peplum.html" rel="nofollow">Cake Patterns Hummingbird peplum tops</a> and <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2013/08/tutorial-super-quick-no-elastic-knit.html" rel="nofollow">a self-drafted comfy knit half-circle skirt.</a>
<h3>Me Made May 24: Unblogged and Unhemmed</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14254924861" title="Me Made May 24: Quick Faux-Denim Skirt by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3750/14254924861_86f410715a_b.jpg" width="760" height="1024" alt="Me Made May 24: Quick Faux-Denim Skirt"></a>
<p>Not yet blogged (or hemmed): Jalie 2681 gored knit skirt (trumpet skirt view E) in size V, with shorter length R. And striped elastic waistband. Fabric is a jegging faux denim knit from Mood. Top is Nettie by Closet Case files in Riley Blake polka dot knit, <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/polka-dot-nettie-overload-nettie.html" rel="nofollow">blogged here.</a>
<p>So... are you a knit-hemming stickler? Or do you just not care? Tips on getting nice level hems without a helper greatly welcome!
<img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/Y7gKmzkhZzY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com47http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/help-me-conquer-my-fear-of-hemming-me.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-77786383433679576142014-05-26T22:48:00.001-04:002014-05-26T22:52:24.495-04:00Double Wax Print Impulse Sewing (based on free tutorials - Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit, Oliver + S Lazy Days Skirt)<p><center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14278739864" title="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3688/14278739864_7fc2d43e17_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt"></a></center>
<p>The impulse sewing bug strikes again! We were at my mom's house in Massachusetts this weekend and I wandered into her sewing room looking for a darning needle for my Hetty cardigan. Her fabric stash was sitting right there, so I just decided to look through it, out of you know, curiosity. And I saw this wax print fabric and I thought "Why don't I make Z and her baby cousin R some simple matching elastic-waist skirts?" So I did.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14278134444" title="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5504/14278134444_05b172af79_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt"></a>
<p>And then after the kids were in bed I saw my mom had some elastic thread and I thought "Why don't I make matching shirred tops?"
<p>Presto! Instant matching wax print cuteness.
<P>Of course, by the time I had both outfits ready for a photo shoot, six-month-old Baby R had fallen asleep for a nap. So I mostly got photos of Z running around in her new favorite outfit (plus a matching headband my mom threw together with her heavy-duty snap attaching machine):
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14275257971" title="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3699/14275257971_45a1248a4f_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt"></a>
<blockquote><h3>The basics</h3>
<p><b>Pattern:</b> I used two free tutorials I'd been eyeing for a while — the <a href="http://www.made-by-rae.com/2012/06/updated-the-ever-popular-baby-sunsuit-tutorial/">Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit</a> (to make the shirred tops—I just left off the bottom part) and the <a href="http://oliverands.com/blog/2008/08/lazy-days-skirt-free-pattern.html">Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt</a>. Both are just constructed from simple rectangles — the skirt is a full width of fabric gathered by an elastic waistband and trimmed with a ribbon hem, and the top is a rectangle with some elastic shirring and straps.
<p><b>Fabric:</b> "Veritable" Dutch wax print cotton borrowed from my mom's stash. She got it from my beloved Sew-Fisticated Discount Fabrics in Boston (<a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2010/03/store-review-sew-fiscticated-discount.html">see my review</a>).
<p><b>Size:</b> I just went by the girls' waist measurements, and made the tops and skirts a bit long on them so they could wear for a while yet.</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14255473706" title="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5591/14255473706_ec24056861_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt"></a>
<p>I remember the first time I realized it was possible to make simple items like skirts without (gasp!) an actual pattern—that many garments were nothing but rectangles or circles gathered up in different ways. At the time I went a little crazy and sewed like, six elastic-waist full skirts before I realized it wasn't always the most flattering look for me. But it works really well on these little girls!
<p><b>Instructions:</b> Both tutorials/patterns had excellent, clear, detailed instructions.
<p><b>Construction notes</b>: I added two extra rows of shirring on Z's top since she is so much bigger than R. And I added extra snaps to make the tops adjustable.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14299375763" title="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5073/14299375763_8009df066e_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt"></a>
<p>My favorite details are the ribbon hems...
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14278150244" title="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3780/14278150244_9395468d28_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt"></a>
<br><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14279188975" title="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5482/14279188975_f4d4990c34_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt"></a>
<p>(Can you believe the cuteness of those toes? GAH!)
<p>And the purple snaps:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14092007317" title="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3667/14092007317_b45f5fb7f6_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt"></a>
<p>The stripes on this fabric are not even vaguely on-grain, so there's a bit of a jumbled tilted effect, especially in back:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14278651615" title="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3764/14278651615_9bf8d47907_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt"></a>
<p>All in all, an impulse sewing win!
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14275237131" title="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2908/14275237131_17928ee5a2_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt"></a>
<p>A perfect outfit for running around and playing all summer long:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14275278481" title="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5032/14275278481_ba163a43fb_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt"></a>
<p>And for snuggling with cousins, of course:
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14092546218" title="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3665/14092546218_99aa677258_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="Matching wax print cousins outfits: Made by Rae Baby Sunsuit as top, Oliver + S Lazy Days skirt"></a>
<p>Sewing doesn't always have to be complicated. Even simple shapes can look awesome in a bright, fun fabric and with the right details. (Cute models don't hurt, either.)
<p>So: Do you ever make simple garments from rectangles or sew from tutorials? Or are you all about using actual pattern pieces?<img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/RRU_3jSI-iM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com14http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/double-wax-print-impulse-sewing-made-by.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-863792023187803515.post-74691059448763519312014-05-24T23:23:00.002-04:002014-05-24T23:28:26.648-04:00Ill-Fitting Bathrobe or Stylish Peplum Jacket? (McCall's 5529, aka my oldest UFO)<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14068401309" title="McCall&#x27;s 5529 Chartreuse Cardigan Jacket Fail by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3752/14068401309_80a10256c9_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="McCall&#x27;s 5529 Chartreuse Cardigan Jacket Fail"></a>
<p>So my oldest unfinished sewing object is finally finished... and I can't decide if I totally hate it or find it mildly acceptable.
<p>I mean, there are a few pros here: it has raglan sleeves, it's an adjustable wrap style, and it's made from a stretchy (but not too stretchy) chartreuse RPL doubleknit. Plus: a peplum!
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14068483417" title="McCall&#x27;s 5529 Chartreuse Cardigan Jacket Fail by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3785/14068483417_8ccb4df531_b.jpg" width="682" height="1024" alt="McCall&#x27;s 5529 Chartreuse Cardigan Jacket Fail"></a>
<p>But... there is a big con here, and that is the poor fit. It's just way too huge all over—in the sleeves, the shoulders, the body, the front. Even when I wrap it as carefully as I can, it feels more "ill-fitting bathrobe" than "casual, yet chic jacket" to me.
<p>This could be because I muslined and cut it out <a href="http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2010/04/mini-wardrobe-progress-setbacks.html">when I was seven months hugely pregnant back in 2010</a>. I thought it might still work now because it is a wrap and a knit, but... I think it's also the pattern. The examples on the envelope look equally large and rather baggy and wrinkly in the sleeves—it should have been a warning sign that the model has her sleeves scrunched up:
<p><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/4284409200/" title="McCalls 5529 Jackets by M1khaela, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4284409200_7b5e88878b.jpg" width="500" height="389" alt="McCalls 5529 Jackets" /></a></center>
<blockquote><h3>The basics</h3>
<p><b>Pattern:</b> McCall's 5529, a self-belted unlined raglan-sleeved cardigan/jacket with peplum, designed for wovens or stable knits. I believe it's out of print in the envelope edition, but I bought it as a download from SewingPatterns.com and tediously taped it all together. I made View C, with self-fabric belt and smooth non-gathered peplum. But I don't think I really recommend this pattern. The collar doesn't seem to know what it wants to do, the belt is rather "meh", and the peplum could be more fun, but isn't.
<p><b>Fabric:</b> Chartreuse Sophia doubleknit rayon/poly/lycra from Fabric.com (<a href="https://www.fabric.com/buy/cn-029/sophia-stretch-double-knit-turquoise">similar here</a> on sale for $8.99/yard). It's a great fabric... BUT I think this would have worked better in a softer knit—like a sweater knit or stretchy French terry.
<p><b>Size:</b> According to my old notes I made a size 14, did a 2" FBA (adding four inches across the bust total), shortened the body by about four inches to hit my short waist... and added quite a bit of width to the front to accommodate my then-huge pregnant belly. I also took in the too-baggy sleeves by an INCH each but apparently that was not enough.</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14068407758" title="McCall&#x27;s 5529 Chartreuse Cardigan Jacket Fail by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5508/14068407758_0c822b1055_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="McCall&#x27;s 5529 Chartreuse Cardigan Jacket Fail"></a>
<p><b>Instructions:</b> Just fine—nothing exciting.
<p><b>Construction notes</b>: Back in 2010 I had originally been making this on the serger. When I picked up this UFO a few weeks ago the body and sleeves were together and all that remained to be done was attach the peplum and collar and sew up the belt. I finished it on my machine with a narrow zig-zag stitch.
<p>I did the topstitching and hems with a regular long straight stitch since this doubleknit is so stable.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14068399109" title="McCall&#x27;s 5529 Chartreuse Cardigan Jacket Fail by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2927/14068399109_0af3b9dfc2_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="McCall&#x27;s 5529 Chartreuse Cardigan Jacket Fail"></a>
<P>I slipstitched the inside of the collar by hand and it took me AGES—I ended up carrying it with me to playground excursions and such. A lot of work for such a mediocre result!
<p><b>Wear:</b> As lackluster as I feel about this make I do still think I will wear it, mainly to work. It's warm and cozy and I got quite a few compliments on it when I wore it to work Friday—mainly due to the color, I think. Chartreuse is kind of my thing, to say the least.
<p>I have a theory that scrunching up the sleeves might help—thoughts?
<p><b>Successes:</b> My first jacket! OK, so it's an unlined unfitted knit belted wrap jacket--a glorified girly sweatshirt. But still--my first jacket!
<p><b>Room for improvement?:</b> The FIT! Next time I make a raglan-sleeve top, I want to see if I can make the armhole more comfortable, perhaps by adding a gusset.
<p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/14252880282" title="McCall&#x27;s 5529 Chartreuse Cardigan Jacket Fail by Mikhaela Reid, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3739/14252880282_c921615c39_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="McCall&#x27;s 5529 Chartreuse Cardigan Jacket Fail"></a>
<p>I suppose I COULD take it apart and alter it to fit better... but I'm just DONE with this project. Whatever. At least the unfinished object pile is TOTALLY EMPTY. For now, anyway... I doubt I will ever make this pattern again and I can't say I recommend it.
<p>My next knit jacket project bodes much better for success, as I KNOW the style is just perfect for me—the Cake Patterns Carmine Jacket (which I drew the cover flats for, naturally):
<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fXn_2fUjV5Q/U4Fg_e7LsNI/AAAAAAAACdQ/IHC_Gbdt-H0/s1600/carmine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fXn_2fUjV5Q/U4Fg_e7LsNI/AAAAAAAACdQ/IHC_Gbdt-H0/s640/carmine.jpg" /></a></div><img src="//feeds.feedburner.com/~r/polkadotoverload/sNjO/~4/ClIucnOiqxc" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Mikhaela Reidhttps://plus.google.com/103651367584655165487noreply@blogger.com21http://www.polkadotoverload.com/2014/05/ill-fitting-bathrobe-or-stylish-peplum.html